Health

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— Muncie, IN— A message in my INBOX from the American Heart Association said May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Hashtag #StrokeMonth How appropriate and timely. Today is the 2nd anniversary of my stroke. For what its worth, here’s my story and things you can do to watch for stroke signs in your loved ones. I don’t mind sharing my story because there are lessons to be learned that may help others. In fact, soon after my stroke when I was struggling with “why me” questions, I thought one reason “why me” might be I was…

Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are sharing the results of a study about how immunity to COVID-19 can develop and change over time. By IU School of Medicine— INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are sharing the results of a study about how immunity to COVID-19 can develop and change over time. Pediatric researchers Chandy John, MD, Alka Khaitan, MD, and colleagues learned that children develop neutralizing antibodies to COVID-19 at similar levels to adults, and those antibodies last longer in children than they do in adults. “Early research suggested children developed fewer antibodies to COVID-19 than…

By Courtney Schmoll— Ball Hospital is one of 496 healthcare providers nationwide to earn the coveted “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation MUNCIE, Ind. – For the tenth consecutive year, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has achieved a perfect score and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 15th anniversary edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2022 HEI survey…

By IUSOM— INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana University School of Medicine researcher will lead a multi-institute effort toward improved therapies for hemophilia with help from a $12 million grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Led by Roland Herzog, PhD, the program project award will fund basic and translational studies that explore three major themes in a gene therapy approach that could lead to safer—and potentially curative—treatments for the disorder. Hemophilia is an X-linked genetic condition that prevents the blood from clotting properly. It occurs in about 1 out of 5,000 male births. In patients with severe forms of the disease,…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, Ind.—IU Health Ball Memorial will host its fourth annual Community LGBTQ+ Healthcare Seminar from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm on March 3, 2022 in the Indiana Room at Minnetrista. Sam McCollum, peer recovery coach at IU Health Ball, will lead a panel discussion about substance use and recovery among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. The seminar will conclude with an open forum for questions and discussion. This event is free and open to the public, and masks are required. No registration required. A to-go boxed meal will be provided after the event. Program…

By IU School of Medicine— INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology have made an important new discovery about how a particular molecule could improve lung function for people with asthma and food allergies. “Millions of children and adults in the United States have asthma, which results from allergen-induced inflammation in the lungs,” said Mark Kaplan, PhD, chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the senior author of the study. “The ability of cells to communicate with each other is critical in the development of inflammation and occurs through the release of molecules called…

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, Ind.-In the midst of growing concerns about healthcare worker shortages, Muncie is cementing its identity as a leader in training physicians, nurses, sonographers, and allied health professionals. Since 2017, healthcare organizations and educational institutions in the city have been working together to build a stronger pipeline of medical professionals. “Medicine has changed dramatically in the past 100 years, but the way we educate physicians—and to some degree, other healthcare workers—hasn’t always kept pace with these changes,” reflects Jud Fisher, president and chief executive officer of Ball Brothers Foundation. “The story is different here in Muncie: we’re…

By Tim Harms, American Heart Association— INDIANAPOLIS– With snow predicted to fall across large portions of Indiana this week, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack. “Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it in a freezer,’” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is immediate past-president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those conditions can very quickly lead to stress on the heart.” To help make snow removal…

By Tim Harms— The American Heart Association encourages everyone to create healthy habits that give them the best chance at a longer, healthier life. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.— Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths from heart disease and stroke have risen significantly and more people are reporting lower physical and emotional wellness. This February, the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives, is helping you reclaim your rhythm and take back control of your mental and physical well-being. Over the past year, many people have adopted unhealthy behaviors like skipping exercise, eating unhealthy…