Mayo Clinic Health Matters

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Ask the Mayo Mom: Helping children cope with medical experiences Mar 04, 2022

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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.

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New cases of COVID-19 continue downward trend Mar 02, 2022

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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.

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Understanding heart testing and evaluation Feb 28, 2022

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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.

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Recognizing skin cancer and reducing your risk Feb 24, 2022

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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.

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Why some patients need a second heart surgery Feb 22, 2022

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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.

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Innovative procedures for kids with congenital heart disease Feb 18, 2022

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Thanks to significant advances in techniques and devices, minimally invasive procedures can be used to treat some congenital heart disease defects. Innovative procedures using catheters through blood vessels in the legs or neck allow interventional cardiologists to repair heart defects without surgically opening a child's chest.

Specialists at Mayo Clinic's Center for Congenital Heart Disease use catheter-based procedures to treat some heart valve replacements and many other conditions, including tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus, patent foramen ovales, and atrial septal defects.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Jason H. Anderson, a Mayo Clinic pediatric interventional cardiologist, joins Ask the Mayo Mom host Dr. Angela Mattke to discuss innovative procedures to treat congenital heart defects.

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Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news update Feb 16, 2022

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As the U.S. moves beyond the omicron surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, key indicators are dropping.

"Both the acute indicators — number of cases — and the lagging indicators — hospitalizations and then deaths — are all dropping slowly, but they're surely dropping," says Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.

Experts warn that caution is still needed to protect yourself in certain situations, including masking in crowded indoor settings and making sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

While the latest surge wanes, COVID-19 research continues.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses the latest COVID-19 news, including a new study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the heart and why Pfizer is delaying the request for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5.

Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

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Pediatric fertility preservation offers hope for families Feb 14, 2022

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Thanks to research and treatment advances over the past few decades, most children diagnosed with cancer now live on to pursue full adult lives. To ensure that those children will one day have the option to become parents, families must consider the risk of infertility when deciding about cancer treatment.

Researchers and health care providers have made progress in minimizing the side effects of cancer treatment without reducing its effectiveness, allowing many cancer survivors to have children after spontaneous recovery of fertility. However, some cancers require rigorous treatment that almost always leads to permanent infertility. But there is hope for those families through fertility preservation.

Mayo Clinic's Fertility Preservation Program offers several options for fertility preservation, depending on the child's age, stage of puberty, diagnosis and proposed treatment plan. Both ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation is possible.

"We hope the pediatric Fertility Preservation Program brings a lot of optimism for the future for these children," says Dr. Asma Chattha, chair of Pediatric Gynecology at Mayo Clinic. "They're obviously fighting an uphill battle. It's a very difficult time in their lives. But barring none, I've always found the conversation surrounding fertility preservation to be a source of hope for families."

In recognition of International Childhood Cancer Day on Tuesday, Feb. 15, Dr. Chattha joins the Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast to discuss what patients and their families should consider when making decisions related to fertility preservation, and the steps involved in the process.

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Ask the Mayo Mom: More than 2 years of COVID-19 takes its toll on children, families Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

More than two full years of living in the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on children and their families. During the most recent omicron surge, pediatric infection rates were particularly concerning for pediatricians across the country.

Parents of children younger than 5 years of age are feeling especially concerned, as vaccines have not yet been approved in this age group. But that may change soon, as Pfizer has recently submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months to 5 years old.

Beyond the direct effects of COVID-19 infections on children are the psychosocial and mental health effects of the pandemic. Isolation and socioeconomic stressors on families affect children, too.

"One in 6 children has sought mental health services in the past two years," says is Dr. James Gaensbauer, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. "The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a mental health emergency during this pandemic."

Dr. Gaensbauer points out it is important for parents to keep an open dialogue and be empathetic with kids about their fears and anxieties. Resources are available to help families, including the Mayo Clinic Family Stress Resource Center.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gaensbauer joins Ask the Mayo Mom host Dr. Angela Mattke to discuss how children and their families have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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With a focus on health during Black History Month, a conversation on addressing disparities in care Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Each February, Black History Month is celebrated to recognize the important role Black people have played in U.S. history.

"Black history is American history, and everyone should celebrate our history 365 days a year," explains Dr. Folakemi Odedina, a Mayo Clinic prostate cancer scientist and global health equity researcher.

This year's theme for Black History Month is "Black Health and Wellness." This theme acknowledges the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners.

"It is really about time that we focus on Black health and wellness because our community is disproportionately experiencing health disparities," says Dr. Odedina. "We have to recognize that there are multiple dimensions of wellness."

According to Dr. Odedina, dimensions of health and wellness include physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and environmental, and social health.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Odedina discusses the factors responsible for health disparities in the Black community and shares how her work supports health and wellness for Black people.

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