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Consider nutrition’s role in diabetes this National Nutrition Month. The sharp upward trajectory of the number of young people under the age of 20 developing diabetes projects to reach 526,000 in 2060 — a 700 percent increase over today. For doctors and other medical professionals, this stark forecast sounds a cause for concern as it’s diabetes that bring a significant increase in the risk of developing heart disease, having a stroke or experiencing various other quality-of-life-limiting complications a...

The reality is that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common. HPV only affects humans, and almost every human will be exposed to at least one type of HPV during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s because HPV is transmitted through direct contact. There are over 200 subtypes of the virus, which affect the skin or tissue inside the body. Around forty of those subtypes are transferred through sexual activity. Transmission can be through direct sk...

The body’s needs change as we age, so too do our nutritional needs. The practice of “proper nutrition” is as important a function as it is broad. There are a lot of aspects that go into practicing proper nutrition. And with the accelerating prevalence of diabetes and its link to nutrition, its role is key to one’s overall health and future well-being. Looking beyond the calories, carbs and fat content on a label’s nutrition facts, everyone should also consider the role vitamins, minerals, fiber and even...

"...I am 100 percent confident that I would not even be here today, or in as good health as I am, had it not been for the information that I got from genetic counseling." In November 2021, as Nancie Petrucelli reviewed her upcoming patient schedule, she recognized an all too familiar last name. “I thought, could it be?” Petrucelli, the director and senior genetic counselor with Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Cancer Genetic Counseling Service , checked the new patient’s chart. She found that the patient’s m...

With potentially devastating results, cardiologists urge everyone to not wait to call 911. The line between being overly cautious and not wanting to cause a commotion can be potentially dangerous. For people experiencing chest pain or any minor discomfort, the sensation may be a passing annoyance and gone in a few minutes. But it could also be a sign of something serious to come. The question then becomes: When do you call 911 for chest pain? The answer is very straightforward: If you’re having symptoms...

Experiencing a relative go through a cancer diagnosis and treatment can spark wonder – “Will I also get cancer?” “How can I prevent this from happening to me?” “What preventative measures do I need to make my kids aware of?” There are many pathways you can take to try to prevent cancer. One way is to receive the recommended cancer screenings at the rate your health care team advises. Another effort you can explore is genetic counseling and testing . Up to 10 percent of all cancer cases are hereditary. G...

For more than 70 years, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart disease extends beyond the sudden and potentially fatal heart attack. Many forms of chronic heart disease cause several quality-of-life-limiting symptoms, often progressing so subtly that sufferers can explain away these symptoms as “just getting older.” Talk to your doctor about your risk for heart disease, potential symptoms and if you need a cardiologist. The prevalence of heart disease is such that ...

A clinical trial is a research study that examines new cancer-fighting drugs, surgical methods, diagnostic tests or disease prevention methods. These new treatment methods are only possible because patients participated in the clinical trials. These studies offer hope to patients and their families. Many patients who have participated in clinical trials through the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute have experienced more time with their families, received the good news that their tumor has stopped gr...

BAY CITY, Mich.— McLaren Bay Region, the 415-bed acute care, Bay City-based hospital, celebrated as vascular surgeon Dr. Nicolas J. Mouawad performed his 200th TCAR, a specialized minimally invasive procedure that significantly lowers the stroke risk of patients who were previously deemed high risk for carotid intervention. Reaching this milestone on Jan. 25 makes Dr. Mouawad the region’s most accomplished surgeon for this potentially life-saving procedure, treating his first patient with this technique...

Maintaining a healthy heart is a lifelong responsibility starting at an early age. With life expectancy in the United States comfortably showing the vast majority of people reaching their seventh decade, this means the average person’s heart will beat more than two billion times. At the same time, statistics also show that the heart (mainly though heart disease and heart attacks) is the leading cause of death. This risk, though, can reduced, and many heart diseases can be prevented with certain behavior...