| Story
and Audio Archives |
Throughout
2003 and 2004, WEKU is presenting a series of news reports,
conversations and audio diary features exploring chronic illness
in Appalachia. To learn more, click on a specific topic and
story.
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| Hear
people from Eastern Kentucky detail the daily challenges
of living with chronic illness. |
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Listen
as medical experts talk about detecting and treating
chronic diseases. |
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Explore
the issues relating to chronic illness and its impact
on people in Appalachia. |
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Audio
Diaries
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| Breath
by Breath: Living with Asthma |
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Maxine
Ritchie has had asthma since she was 9-months old. Her father
and two brothers have the chronic lung condition. When her
two sons were diagnosed with it, she decided to make asthma
education her career. Listen
as the Hazard woman describes her life with asthma. |
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| When
a Heart Stops Beating: Living with Heart Disease |
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It
seemed like a normal morning in 1996 but as Earl Wayne Kates
drove to work, he started to have chest pains. Seven years
later, the Jackson County native is on medical disability
having suffered two major heart attacks and congestive heart
failure. Listen
as Kates and his wife discuss living with heart disease. |
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| Ashley's
Story: Living with Diabetes |
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Ashley
Reams barely remembers when she didn’t have to take
insulin shots. The college student was diagnosed with diabetes
when she was three. Ashley is one of 60,000 eastern Kentuckians
who have the disease. Listen
to her audio diary about diabetes. |
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| A
Friendship Bonded by Hearts and Lungs: Living
with Emphysema |
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Until
1998, Janet Costilow of Berea and Carolyn Oglethorpe of Richmond
didn’t know each other, but they shared a common bond:
both suffered from the chronic lung disease emphysema. Hear
the story of their friendship and Carolyn's hope for a transplant.
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Discussions
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A
Conversation about Improving the Health of Kentuckians |
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Host
Bill Goodman and a panel of medical experts discuss the current
state of healthcare in Kentucky, and explore ideas for fostering
change at the personal, community and state levels that will
result in better health for Kentuckians. Listen
to this live broadcast from Pikeville College. |
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| A
Conversation about Asthma |
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Join
host Bill Goodman and a panel of medical experts for a discussion
about asthma. Listen
as they explore diagnosis, treatment, medications and management
of the disease as well as tips for caring for someone with
asthma. |
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| A
Conversation about Heart Disease |
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Join
host Bill Goodman and a panel of medical experts for a discussion
about cardio-vascular disease. Listen
as they explore prevention, diagnosis, treatment and caring
for someone with a heart condition. Plus, learn some ways
to keep your heart healthy. |
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| A
Conversation About Diabetes |
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Join
host Bill Goodman and a panel of medical experts for a discussion
about diabetes. Listen
as they explore prevention, diagnosis, treatment and caring
for someone with the chronic condition. |
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| A
Conversation about Chronic Lung Disease |
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Join
host Bill Goodman and a pulmonary physician and occupational
therapist for a discussion about emphysema, bronchitis and
other chronic lung diseases. Learn
about prevention, diagnosis, treatment and caring for
someone with a lung condition. |
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Special
Reports
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The State of Our Health - A Documentary Report |
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Diabetes,
asthma and other chronic conditions affect the lives of thousands
of Kentuckians and place a tremendous burden on the state's
healthcare system. Learn more in this special report from
WEKU News. Download
a transcript of the program (requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader) or listen
to the show. |
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| Governor
Fletcher Discusses Health Care |
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As
a former physician, Governor Ernie Fletcher and First Lady
Glenna Fletcher, a former nurse, have unique perspectives
on Kentucky's medical system. KET's Bill Goodman talked with
the Fletchers about the role of government in personal health
matters. Listen
now. |
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| Bringing
More Doctors to Appalachia |
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In
eastern Kentucky, there is only one doctor for every 1,500
people. How is the region coping with a shortage of physicians?
By relying on immigrant doctors and developing training and
residency programs to attract natives to the medical profession.
Learn
more. |
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| In
Matters of the Heart, It's a Matter of Prevention |
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Kentuckians
do not fare too well when it comes to matters of the heart
— heart disease, that is. Every day, 200 Kentuckians
are hospitalized due to heart disease. But some very simple
steps can help you avoid become another heart attack statistic.
Learn
more. |
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| Lifestyle
Choices Affect the Health of Kentuckians |
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Medical
experts say chronic conditions like diabetes, and lung and
heart disease are among the most preventable of illnesses.
It's lifestyle factors — the choices we make everyday
about diet, smoking and exercise — that make a critical
difference to our long-term health. Learn
more. |
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| Women
Smokers in Kentucky |
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A
new report shows Kentucky is a national leader in the percentage
of women who smoke, and that little is being done in the state
to address the issue. Learn
more. |
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| Chronic
Illness Care at the Grassroots |
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From
a church basement in Hazard, to a clinic in tiny Grethel,
Kentucky, an increasing number people with chronic illness
in Appalachia are turning to community-based services for
support. Listen
as Stu Johnson reports on grassroots organizations in Perry,
Floyd and Madison counties that care for the chronically ill.
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| Diabetes
in Appalachian Kentucky |
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Diabetes
is the fifth leading cause of death in Kentucky, where more
than 300-thousand people have the disease. Learn
more about what health professionals like Hazard Dr. Baretta
Casey are doing to address diabetes. |
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| Health
Care in Appalachia |
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In
earlier days, professional medical services in eastern Kentucky
were hard to find. But today, a number of facilities like
the White House Clinic in McKee allow more people to find
treatment closer to home. Read
more. |
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| Chronic
Illness in Appalachia |
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In
spite of medical advances, people in Appalachian Kentucky
continue to experience high rates of chronic illness, especially
heart and lung diseases, diabetes and asthma. Learn
more about chronic illness in the region and efforts to
fight the diseases. |
