Thursday on “First Coast Connect” we spoke with St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman about the dangers to the river and its tributaries due to Hurricane Irma (01:10).
Tim Brack, Medtronic’s Ear, Nose and Throat division marketing manager told us about treatments for the sinus condition known as Chronic Rhinosinustis or CRS (31:52).
We also heard about two upcoming events connected to Volunteers in Medicine.
Noor Ashouri is the Director of Marketing with First Coast Cardiovascular and Aimee Boggs is with Raymond James. You’ll learn more about Volunteers in Medicine’s Women with Heart for September (39:43).
Riverkeeper Irma Impact
Flooding from Hurricane Irma devastated many parts of the St. Johns River basin, including dumping a great deal of sewage into the river and its tributaries along with massive amounts of storm debris.
That comes on top of the constant struggle to protect the river from runoff and other dangers that threaten the health of the St. Johns.
Riverkeeper Rinaman said the middle basin is still experiencing flooding and the sewage and other debris in the river is also causing health concerns. She is recommending people stay off the river until it’s clear. JEA said it has cleared bacteria from the Trout River and most of the St. Johns’ tributaries, except for Strawberry Creek and Fishing Creek. Rinaman said it’s not known when the all clear will be announced.
Medtronic CRS
It’s a sinus condition that affects one in 8 adults in the U.S. Chronic Rhinosinusitis or CRS can produce headaches, facial pain or pressure, fatigue and nasal obstruction or congestion. When the symptoms continue for more than 12 weeks it is considered chronic. There are ways it can be treated.
One on the market offered by Medtronic is a balloon sinus dilation, which is a minimally invasive treatment that can be performed in a physician’s office.
The Capital Affair
Volunteers in Medicine is Jacksonville’s own free healthcare clinic that provides outpatient primary and specialty medical services to Northeast Florida’s working, low-income, uninsured individuals and their families. Their goal is to provide preeminent care to keep them healthy, employed and out of hospital emergency rooms. Physicians volunteer their time to make sure people who need care, get it. Later this month, Volunteers in Medicine is having a very fancy affair.
The Capital Affair is a rare lunchtime event that runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Capital Grille at the St. Johns Town Center. There is also this Saturday’s Yoga With Heart from 9a.m to 11:30 pm at the clubhouse lawn at PTC Sawgrass.
Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.
