Tag Archives: Steve Cochran

Dr. Kevin Most Dismantles Blood Pressure Myths: Unmasking the truth for a healthy heart!

Sep 26, 2023 | mirandaellis

Chief Medical Officer at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Kevin Most joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss a groundbreaking cancer treatment aimed at curbing peanut allergies, an innovative Alzheimer’s drug rolling out in July, and he debunks common misconceptions surrounding blood pressure. 

Dr. Kevin Most’s Steve Cochran Show Notes:

Cancer Drug that curbs peanut allergies?  More?

  • A new drug to treat cancer may also block peanut allergy- Acalabrutinib- “A CAL A Brut In IB”
  • Study published last month shows that a drug used to treat lymphoma, by inhibiting an enzyme in our body known as BKT, also reduced skin test responses to peanut allergies.
  • BTK is an enzyme that is necessary for severe allergic reactions, and blocking it appears to stop on minimize the allergic reaction
  • Baseline testing before the drug was given, showed a reaction to 29 milligrams of peanut protein ( a single peanut has 200 milligrams of peanut protein
  • After being treated with this medication  for 2 days, some patients tolerated over 4,000 milligrams of peanut protein without having a reaction (highest dose for testing )
  • Seven out of ten patients went thru a peanut ingestion test without any problems and the other 3 had a much higher threshold
  • Larger trials need to be completed, and testing as to see if this drug will block other allergies is being reviewed
  • This may lead to allowing a patient to take a drug they are allergic to, when no other alternative is available.
  • The patient would be pre treated with this drug and then receive the treatment they need
  • This is the first drug to prevent allergic reactions to foods in a rapid onset

Leqembi- Alzheimer’s Drug approved in July rolling out soon.

  • Five major health systems are working on administration and payment for this drug and will be offering it soon, including Northwestern, here in Chicago
  • CMS reported that Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of the drug, without having to be enrolled in a trial. Current cost is quoted at $26,500 per year
  • This will change how Alzheimer’s is treated here in the US dramatically.
  • 6.5 million individuals have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the vast majority of which are on Medicare.
  • Doctors are now looking to see which patients in their practice qualify for the medication, as it is approved for individuals who are early in the illness
  • In order to qualify, you must have cognitive testing, genetic testing to look for a specific genetic change that would disqualify some individuals and a spinal tape or imaging that shows amyloid
  • Leqembi removes amyloid
  • Health systems are now screening patients to see who qualifies and then presenting the risks to the patient and family and explaining the monitoring that will occur.

Blood Pressure Myths

  • I can’t have High blood pressure, I feel fine and have no headaches- in US 75 million people have HTN of those 11 million do not know it.
  • I take blood pressure pills so I am fine- It is estimated that 45% of those with HTN are poorly controlled mainly due to compliance and lifestyle changes
  • HTN is only seen in old people- 7.5% of those between 18-39yo 33% of those between 40-59 and 63% of those over the age of 60 have Hypertension
  • After taking BP meds for a while I can stop- individuals who take BP meds and do behavior modifications with diet and exercise may see the need for BP meds to drop, for most however it is a lifelong issue
  • Only Men get HTN-  Men do have a higher risk of HTN until the age of 45 , between 45-64  the risk becomes equal for men and women and over 65 women have a higher risk of HTN
  • Blood pressure is the pressure in the heart- No blood pressure taken in arm is actually the pressure measured as blood is pushing against the walls of the arteries.
  • Doctors pump up the cuff until it hurts- No the cuff is pumped up to a pressure that stops blood flow thru the artery, the systolic number is the pressure noted when we hear movement as we decrease the pressure. The diastolic number is when we no longer hear any sounds.
  • My family has High Blood Pressure so I will also end up with it- False- if an individual knows they have a family history of HTN, they should be following a healthy lifestyle – diet- exercise- weight control- low sodium intake- limited alcohol intake- may prevent HTN
  • Apple Cider vinegar lowers blood pressure- There is no validated research that shows Apple Cider vinegar lowers Blood Pressure, you should see a doctor for treatment options
  • Blood pressure machines for the home are not accurate – There are websites that verify the accuracy of machines as well as bringing the home machine with you to the doctor to compare results

Ready for Retirement: Bill Geiger of Geiger Wealth Management can help you manage your portfolio

Sep 26, 2023 | mirandaellis

When it comes to preparing for retirement and keeping your money safe, there’s no one better than Bill Geiger. He joins the Steve Cochran Show to talk about what you need to know about securing your retirement and some of the mistakes people make along the way.

Make the call today, contact Bill Geiger at 800-681-249 or visit geigerwealth.com.

Why does Chicago film critic Nick Digilio hate the Eagles so much?

Sep 22, 2023 | mirandaellis

Cherished Chicago film critic Nick Digilio joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss songs he loves but everyone hates, his recent interview with former SNL writer Katie Rich, featured on his SNL podcast available for streaming on Radio Misfits. He also shares if ‘Expendables 4’, ‘It Lives Inside’, and ‘The Saint of Second Chances’ are worth seeing this weekend.

Community support needed for fallen firefighter’s family

Sep 22, 2023 | mirandaellis

Comedian & member of the Four Fathers Tim Benker joins the Steve Cochran Show to talk about a GoFundMe campaign aimed at supporting the funeral expenses for the beloved husband, father of five, and local firefighter hero, Jack Brylewski. The goal is also to ensure that Jack’s children have the necessary resources as they face life without their father.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-fireman-jacek-brylewski?member=29019315&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer

‘Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ resolution is a tax increase in search of a program.’ – Paul Vallas on the Steve Cochran Show

Sep 21, 2023 | mirandaellis

Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss how Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “Bring Chicago Home” proposal will penalize businesses, transforming abandoned buildings into affordable housing, and he shares why he believes the proposal is a tax increase in search of a program.

Cash bail eliminated: How have changes been implemented?

Sep 20, 2023 | mirandaellis

DuPage Co. State’s Attorney Bob Berlin joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss what changes have been implemented since cash bail has been eliminated, the eligible individuals for no cash bail, and why the DGTRO Reagan Day Dinner 2023 is the ideal event for the public to have their questions addressed.

UAW Strike: What do the United Auto Workers want?

Sep 20, 2023 | mirandaellis

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Labor & Employment Relations & College of Law Michael LeRoy joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss whether the UAW has a strategy, if strikers are prepared to strike for a long period, and the ability of UAW officers to determine the perfect moment to settle.

‘The entire building is built around inspiration.’ – Pastor Corey Brooks on the Steve Cochran Show

Sep 19, 2023 | mirandaellis

Founder of Project H.O.O.D. Pastor Corey Brooks joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the groundbreaking ceremony for the Robert R. McCormick Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, what a typical day at the center will look like, and opportunities for individuals interested in becoming mentors at the opportunity center.

Supercharge Your Immunity: What to do when over-the-counter cold medicines fall short

Sep 19, 2023 | mirandaellis

Chief Medical Officer at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Kevin Most joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the importance of getting your annual COVID-19 shot, if over-the-counter cold medicines are ineffective, and he shares how an abscessed tooth affects your whole body. 

Dr. Kevin Most’s Steve Cochran Show Notes:

Covid Vaccine annual shot now available

  • Fully approved by FDA and CDC last week
  • Approved for those over the age of 6 months
  • This vaccine was built to target the XBB strain we saw in the spring, and is the offshoot of the current strains EG 5 and  BA 2.86
  • The vaccine will again protect you from severe illness and hospitalizations, and will minimize symptoms in those who get Covid
  • Concern is vaccine apathy, as only 1 in 6 got the last booster, and with decreased tracking cases are being discussed anecdotally versus actual rates as we have stopped tracking closely.
  • Many feel their natural immunity as well as previous vaccinations will continue to protect them
  • When to get vaccinated – now or soon unless you have had a recent infection, in which case you can wait 3 months, or got the bivalent vaccine in the last 2 months
  • Getting the flu vaccine and the Covid vaccine at the same time is fine, and getting them in both arms has been shown to increase immunity
  • Officials in Florida are telling people under 65  to not get the Covid vaccine, political ignorance may actually impact the health of those in Florida and those who travel to Florida
  • Some pediatricians are on the fence for the vaccine with young healthy children, as most children do quite well with the current Covid infections

Decongestant found in many oral cold meds is ineffective per FDA

  • Phenylephrine is found in almost all OTC cold medications, over 250 products
  • Recent review of studies  by the FDA showed that this medication is not actually effective in treating congestion
  • FDA Advisory committee voted 16- 0 , that the drug does not work as advertised for oral medications
  • It has been studied to show that when taken orally only a very small portion of the medication is actually absorbed
  • FDA may prompt that all of these oral medications be pulled now that they have shown it is ineffective
  • If pulled, this will be very disruptive thru cold season as the companies then determine next steps for reformulation, and patients may be left with few options
  • There have been studies since 2007 showing phenylephrine is no better than placebo when looking at decongesting
  • These products are worth close to $2 billion dollars in sales each year
  • This medication became popular in 2006, when the FDA removed pseudoephedrine from direct OTC, to a point where you need to ask the pharmacist and your purchase is logged
  • Drug companies then switched from pseudoephedrine to phenylephrine for the direct OTC products
  • Studies for the effectiveness for phenylephrine were done by the drug manufacturers, not based on peer reviewed clinical trials
  • This change occurred because drug dealers were using, the then OTC pseudoephedrine , to make methamphetamine
  • Some medications that Phenylephrine is found in- Sudafed Sinus Congestion, Tylenol Cold and Flu, Nyquil cold and flu and many others
  • Phenylephrine has been shown to be effective in a nasal spray form

Five Americans freed in prisoner swap with Iran have landed safely on American soil

Sep 19, 2023 | mirandaellis

Five American citizens have been freed as part of a deal between the U.S. and Iran were flown out of the country. ABC News State Dept Correspondent Shannon Crawford joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the trade terms, prospects for trust-building between the U.S. and Iran, and she provides insight into the journey ahead for these five Americans after enduring years as prisoners of war.

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