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This week we are discussing bullying amongst young children.  
CDC defines bullying as any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths, who are not siblings, that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include:
Physical such as hitting, kicking, and tripping.
Verbal including name-calling and teasing.
Relational or social such as spreading rumors and leaving out of the group.
Damage to victim's property.
Bullying can also occur through technology, which is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as "bully/victim"). (credits: CDC)
 
We would like to take a moment to thank the judges at The National Health Information Awards Organization for granting us the Bronze Medal for Media/Publishing for 2024!

Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.
​Heavy metal poisoning occurs when microscopic molecules of metals accumulate within your body after exposure. Heavy metals attach to your cells and prevent them from performing their functions, which causes symptoms that could be life threatening without treatment.
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What metals cause heavy metal poisoning (toxicity)? Several metals can be toxic to your body. The most common toxic metals are:
Lead. Contaminated water from lead pipes, batteries, paint, gasoline, construction materials.
Mercury. Liquid in thermometers, lightbulbs, dental amalgam (“silver”) fillings, batteries, seafood, topical antiseptics.
Arsenic. Topical creams, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, paints, enamels, glass, contaminated water, seafood, algae.
Cadmium. Cigarette smoke, metal plating, batteries.
Thallium. Rodenticides, pesticides, fireworks.
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How does someone get heavy metal poisoning? You can get heavy metal poisoning by exposing yourself to heavy metals. Heavy metals form naturally within the Earth’s crust. We interact with small amounts of heavy metals every day, like when you check the temperature of your thermometer, which uses mercury. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when metals get into your body. This can happen if you’re exposed to a large amount of metal including:
Eating a lot of food that contains metals (fish).
Drinking water from older water supply systems.
Working with metals on the job.
Taking medications or supplements with high amounts of metallic elements.
Handling metals or products made with a large amount of metal (like paint or pesticides) without using personal protective equipment.
Most metals that cause poisoning are in a microscopic (molecular) form when they enter your body. They are so small, you won’t be able to see them. Heavy metals can enter your body by:
Absorbing into your skin.
Breathing in or inhaling tiny metal molecules.
Eating or drinking (ingesting) the metal from food or water.
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Who does heavy metal poisoning affect? Heavy metal poisoning can affect anyone who has exposure to heavy metals. This most often affects people who:
Drink water from pipes made of older metals (lead).
Work with metals.
Take more than the prescribed dosage of medicine or supplements that contain metal.
Live in an environment with high air or water pollution.
Eat a lot of foods that contain metal.
Consume a non-edible product made with metal (paint).
Children are at a higher risk of heavy metal poisoning because their bodies are still developing and they are more sensitive to the harmful effects of heavy metals.
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How common is heavy metal poisoning? The exact rate of occurrence is unknown, but in the United States, heavy metal poisoning is rare since it only affects people who have exposure to heavy metals. The number of people diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning decreased significantly over the last 20 years because of awareness and preventative measures to remove heavy metals from homes.
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What does heavy metal poisoning do to my body? Exposure to heavy metals can be dangerous to your health. While we use and interact with metals every day, certain heavy metals are toxic because the molecules that make up the metal damage or negatively interact with the cells in your body that are essential to keep your organs functioning.
Your body has small amounts of metals in it already, like iron, copper and zinc. These metals are important to keep your organs functioning. If you have too much metal accumulated within your body, it can damage your vital organs like your brain and liver. (credits: Cleveland Clinic)

Your immune system is your body's main defense against germs and illnesses. When you have lupus, you're more prone to infections because your immune system works differently than most people's. It becomes overactive and attacks your body itself.
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Our guest on today's show is another repeat guest, Amber Blackburn. Amber is a Registered Nurse turned blogger and patient advocate for those with chronic illnesses.  She deals with Hemiplegic Migraines and Lupus and unfortunately she caught COVID at the very start of the Pandemic. 

This week we will discuss kidney dialysis with Christina & Michael.  Christina and Michael Gilchrist have quickly become known as "BLIND CHICK LIVING" & "THE CARETAKER" but who could forget Christina's service dog MOOSE! 
 
Christina story: early teens kidney disease diagnosed, early 20's pregnant, doctor missed toxemia, seizures which caused retina and optic nerve imploded causing blindness in total kidney failure, oldest brother donated kidney, unfortunately rejected, asked if she could do home dialysis "NO!! YOU ARE BLIND", in center dialysis 5+yrs plus a young single mother, cadaveric kidney donated, start LIVING and having fun that is where Michael slid into Christina's DM's!!, started rejecting again, INSISTED on doing Peritoneal Dialysis and would not take no for an answer, kept LIVING on PD doing dialysis all over from dry camping with solar panels even got married and did PD on honeymoon and YES! on the back of a motorcycle!!, PD stopped working started home hemo with Michaels help, Michael felt he needed support and not being able to find a support group that fit his needs he started his own.  That was the start of LIVING on dialysis!!  We have traveled all over the country advocating for dialysis and sharing how we are LIVING!!

This week we will discuss Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCX) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).  Our guest is Carly Newton.  
​Carly is a Registered Nurse at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies with over 15years helping Health Care Professionals treating SCD patients with Red Blood Cell Exchange all over the globe. Specializing in apheresis treatments, Carly uses that experience to educate Health Care Professionals on the most effective ways to prescribe Red Blood Cell Exchange. 
​By focusing on differentiating the different types of transfusion therapies available to SCD patients, Carly has been able to put the Registered Nurse degree they earned at The University of South Australia to good use. Carly may spend their days at the Terumo Lakewood campus, but it’s the patients and helping them live their best lives that gets them up in the morning.
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When they’re not at Terumo, Carly loves spending time in the great outdoors and enjoying everything the Colorado Rockies have to offer.

As you may recall Myisha spoke with us in season 7 about Crohn's Disease and season 10 about Asthma.   We are running this week's episode as a re-run of her asthma interview.  Myisha is a passionate dedicated advocate she’s received proclamations from states for recognition of her advocacy and IBD awareness.  Besides her challenges with Crohn's, Myisha has a daughter with severe asthma and is here today to discuss her daughters' journey.
 
​Patients with severe asthma use the highest dose of inhaled corticosteroids plus a second controller and/or oral corticosteroids. However, despite using high dose medicines, reducing risks, and following their treatment plan, many times their asthma remains uncontrolled. Severe asthma is categorized into three types: allergic asthma, eosinophilic asthma and non-eosinophilic asthma.