health

Interviews: Writer Rod Dreher And Activist John Hightower

Jim Engster — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:14:00 +0000

Jim chats with noted write Rod Dreher, about his return to Louisiana and his book, "The Little Way of Ruthie Leming"

Community activist John Hightower discusses some of the many philanthropic ventures he's involved with, including an upcoming summit on diabetes at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, hosted by the Environment and Health Council of Louisiana, of which Hightower is a member.

Interviews: Civil Rights Activist Dorothy Cotton, Legalizing Marijuana

editor — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:01:00 +0000

Dr. Beau Kilmer, with the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, with what everyone needs to know about legalizing marijuana.

Jim talks with civil rights activist Dr. Dorothy Cotton, who was a contemporary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Study Asks if Apps Can Help Pregnant Women Control Weight Gain

Susan Hidalgo-Smith — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Dr. Karen Elkind-Hirsch is part of a group of researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Woman's Hospital who will be following 306 pregnant women with smartphones.

Centenary College Partners with MLK Health Center for Open Houses

editor — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:37:00 +0000

A Shreveport community health provider is getting marketing and brand consulting from a group of Centenary College students who are part of a living learning community called Santé. It’s the French word for “health.” Since August, the students have immersed themselves in the work done by MLK Health Center.

Interviews: Pennington Center's Dr. Steven Heymsfield, Blogger Stephen Sabludowsky

Jim Engster — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:43:00 +0000

Dr. Steven Heymsfield, Executive Director the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, discusses the health of Baton Rouge and Louisiana in general.

Political blogger Stephen Sabludowsky talks about the health of Governor Jindal's tax reforms proposal.

Award winning author Amy Stewart on her new book, "The Drunken Botanist"

Neurologists Move Toward Oral Therapies, Injectables for MS Patients

Susan Hidalgo-Smith — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:02:00 +0000
Dr. April Erwin, with the Neuromedical Center, explains the latest drug therapies and clinical trials that may give Multiple Sclerosis patients hope for a more normal lifestyle.Dr. April Erwin
Copyright 2013 WRKF-FM.

Shreveport Lawmaker Draws Attention to Health Care Bill

Kate Archer Kent — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:10:00 +0000
Flanked by supporters, Louisiana District 3 Rep. Barbara Norton of Shreveport explained her motivations yesterday for filing a bill that would require the state to sign on to an expansion of the Medicaid program and participate in the Affordable Care Act. Estimates are that up to 400,000 more Louisianans could be eligible for Medicaid next year and thereafter if the state chose to expand the program, with the federal government picking up most of the tab. Gov. Bobby Jindal has criticized such a move, calling Medicaid an inefficient and poorly managed program.

New Orleans Awarded Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Roadmaps to Health Prize

Paul Maassen — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:51:27 +0000

New Orleans is one of six cities in the United States to receive the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Road Maps to Health Prize, a $25,000 award dedicated to improving health at the population level.

Louisiana Has The Highest Rate Of Diabetes In The U.S.

Susan Hidalgo-Smith — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:33:00 +0000
Diabetes has multiple complications. Among them are kidney failure, lower limb amputation, blindness and it is a major cause of Heart Disease & Stroke. Dr. Andriette Martin Fitch, with Ochsner on Harding Blvd in Baton Rouge, is personally involved in the areas of Diabetes & Hypertension. She sees patients daily who are not maintaining a healthy lifestyle and spends a great deal of her day sending out the message to both parents & children. Her message to parents, "If you don't want your children, your spouse or your family members to die of Hypertension or Diabetes, make a change in your diet and exercise daily."Dr. Andriette Martin Fitch

Tobacco Tax Could Nearly Close Budget Gap

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:57:00 +0000
Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax reform proposals may include raising the tobacco excise tax. Health officials have suggested raising the tax by a dollar per pack. A study shows raising the tax by that much would raise $223 million a year – that’s almost enough to have closed this year’s $240 million budget gap.
Jindal has said his tax reforms would be revenue neutral, replacing the income tax with higher sales tax.