Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF's The Spark.
She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on "The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for "Unrestricted Praise" at Praise FM.
Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
Asia is extremely friendly so don't be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that affects far more Americans than many realize, according to Dr. Matthew Coates, a gastroenterologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In a conversation with The Spark, Coates explained that Crohn's disease is one form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, which he described as "a type of chronic auto-inflammatory condition that leads to a variety of problems in people's gastrointestinal tracts."
While Crohn's disease is often mentioned alongside ulcerative colitis, Coates noted key differences between the two. "Whereas ulcerative colitis is usually thought of as being focused in the colon or the large intestine, Crohn disease can be found anywhere within the gastrointestinal tract and sometimes outside of it," he said. That distinction can make Crohn's more complex to diagnose and manage over time.
Because Crohn's is considered a chronic illness, it does not simply resolve on its own. "It means basically it doesn't go away after a short period of time," Coates explained, adding that chronic conditions often last months or longer and require ongoing medical care. An estimated three million people in the United States live with IBD, and "a little less than half of those patients are thought to have Crohn's disease."
Early symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and sometimes blood in the stool, but Coates emphasized that symptoms can vary widely. He urged people not to dismiss persistent digestive issues as stress or diet alone. "When patients start to have persistent or chronic symptoms that don't go away even when you try simple and reasonable interventions," he said, "it's important...to talk to your healthcare provider about it."