Shows
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients85: Menopause: Symptoms, Timing, And What HelpsSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We discuss a clear, practical guide to menopause, explaining what it is, why it happens, and how to manage the most common symptoms with everyday steps and evidence-based options. We set up next week’s deep dive on hormone therap. • Defining menopause and typical timing• Why estrogen declines and bodywide effects• Common symptoms across sleep, mood, and metabolism• Hot flashes and night sweats frequency and duration• Vaginal and urinary symptoms that mimic UTIs• Bo...
2025-11-1729 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients84: Osteoporosis Explained: How to Keep Your Bones StrongSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We break down osteopenia and osteoporosis with clear steps to protect independence: how bones weaken, how DEXA scoring works, and which daily habits reduce fracture risk. We share nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes, and home safety that make a measurable difference.• key stats on fracture risk in women and men over 50• definitions of osteopenia and osteoporosis using T-scores• hip, spine and wrist as common fracture sites• why bone loss accelerates after menopause• risk factors in...
2025-11-1040 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients83: Seasonal Affective Disorder: How to Recognize and What to DoSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We share a joyful wedding recap and travel bits, then pivot to a clear guide on Seasonal Affective Disorder: what it is, who it affects, why it happens, and the tools that help. Practical and compassionate advice to steady mood, sleep, and energy through winter.• defining Seasonal Affective Disorder and its seasonal pattern• key symptoms including oversleeping and carb cravings• distinguishing normal winter dips from functional impairment• who is at higher risk and why geog...
2025-11-0339 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients82: Jet Lag and Travel FatigueSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We share newlywed joy, wild plane moments, and a clear plan for beating jet lag using light timing, hydration, naps, and simple habits that work. Direction matters, and we explain how to prep differently for eastward and westward travel so your body clock adjusts faster.• wedding highlights and travel• plane etiquette and seat recline awareness• jet lag basics and circadian rhythm cues• symptoms that signal body clock mismatch• westward strategies: evening light and short...
2025-10-2735 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated PatientsReboot: Hypertension Lifestyle ChangesSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We continue our hypertension journey with two pillars—lifestyle and medication—and show how small, honest changes shift blood pressure in meaningful ways. From sodium awareness and exercise to sleep apnea, tobacco, alcohol, and med side effects, we focus on what actually works.• two pillars of treatment: lifestyle and medication• non‑modifiable risks: age, sex, race, family history• sodium literacy and the DASH eating pattern• track intake and aim for 1,500–2,300 mg sodium• clinically meaning...
2025-10-2024 minYour Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated PatientsReboot: Hypertension ExplainedSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Since we are away we wanted to give you an oldie but a goodie! We demystify blood pressure with clear examples, practical thresholds, and simple steps for accurate home readings, then connect the numbers to real risks for the brain, heart, and kidneys. We end with a preview of lifestyle changes and meds to manage hypertension well.• what systolic and diastolic numbers represent • how to think about normal vs elevated readin...
2025-10-1321 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients81: Concussions: Raising Awareness for Student Athletes and ParentsSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply. We unpack myths, the new stepwise approach, and why return to school should come before return to play.• what a concussion is• common and delayed symptoms including mood and sleep changes• immediate sideline steps• why “cocooning” is outdated and how light activity helps• individualized recovery timelines and risk of returning too soon• return-to-learn before return-to-play with simple accommodations• a staircase model for activity and symptom thresholds• helmets vs brain movement and the role...
2025-10-0630 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients80: Screen time, Social Media & Mental HealthSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Screen time impacts our mental health in significant ways, with research suggesting particular risks for teens who spend more than three hours daily on social media.• Higher social media usage linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and stress• Teens more vulnerable to negative mental health effects than adults• Using social media to escape negative feelings raises mental health risks• Limiting social media to 30 minutes per day can lower depression and anxiety• Open conve...
2025-09-2924 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients79: Colon Cancer Screening: Why It Is Important & Your OptionsSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Colon cancer screening saves lives by catching cancer early and even preventing it, yet only 69% of eligible adults are up to date with their screenings. We explore who needs screening, what tests are available, and how to choose the right one for you.• Most adults should start colon cancer screening at age 45, even if healthy• Family history may mean you need to start screening earlier• Stool-based tests like FIT and Cologuard are convenient home option...
2025-09-2230 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients78: DASH Diet: Dietary Approaches to Stop HypertensionSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.The DASH diet offers a powerful, evidence-based approach to lowering blood pressure through nutritional changes rather than medication.• Stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension• Focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy• Limits sodium, saturated fat, added sugars, and processed meats• Can lower systolic blood pressure by 5-6 points and diastolic by 3 points• Recommends 4-5 servings each of fruits and vegetables daily• Suggests 6-8 servings of whole grains per d...
2025-09-1533 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients77: The Flu Shot: Why This Vaccine Matters More Than You ThinkSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.The flu vaccine is our best defense against influenza, a contagious respiratory virus that causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the US each year. Despite being only 40-60% effective, the vaccine significantly reduces hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and deaths while protecting vulnerable populations who cannot be vaccinated.• Influenza causes 9-41 million illnesses, 140,000-960,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000-80,000 deaths annually in the US• Everyone aged six months and older should receive the flu vaccine yearly...
2025-09-0833 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients76: Four Habits of People Who Maintain Weight LossSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We explore the four key habits of people who have successfully maintained significant weight loss, based on findings from the National Weight Control Registry's long-term observational study.• 62% of successful weight maintainers watch less than 10 hours of TV weekly (under 90 minutes daily)• 75% weigh themselves at least once weekly as a data point, not as a measure of self-worth• 78% eat breakfast every day, potentially helping regulate hunger cues throughout the day• 90% maintain high levels of physical...
2025-09-0121 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients75: Understanding Your Liver: From Function to Fatty DiseaseSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.The liver performs vital functions including filtering toxins, producing proteins, storing energy, aiding digestion, and regulating cholesterol and hormones. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease globally, affecting up to 38% of the population worldwide.• The liver filters blood, breaks down alcohol and medications, produces proteins like albumin and clotting factors• It stores energy as glycogen, vitamins, and minerals including iron• The liver makes bile for digesting fats and he...
2025-08-2521 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients74: Why Your Body Fights Weight Loss: Metabolic Adaptation ExplainedSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Metabolic adaptation is a powerful physiological process that explains why weight loss is so challenging and why keeping it off can feel like your body is working against you.• Your body burns fewer calories than expected after weight loss, creating an "energy gap"• For every kilogram lost, metabolism slows by approximately 25 calories• Weight loss affects hormones like leptin (satiety) and ghrelin (hunger) that control appetite• Metabolic adaptation is a survival mechanism, not a personal...
2025-08-1835 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients73: Ultra-Processed Foods: Why Food Processing Matters for Your HealthSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Our food choices extend far beyond calories, with recent research showing minimally processed diets outperform ultra-processed diets for weight loss even when nutrient content is identical.• Ultra-processed foods contain industrial ingredients not found in home kitchens like sweeteners, emulsifiers, and preservatives• The NOVA classification categorizes foods from unprocessed to ultra-processed based on processing methods• Signs of ultra-processed foods include long ingredient lists, unpronounceable ingredients, and extended shelf life• Ultra-processed foods are engineered to be "hype...
2025-08-1141 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients72: How Many Steps a Day Keep the Doctor Away? New Study Reveals the AnswerSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We dive deep into recent research that challenges everything you think you know about daily step goals. The famous 10,000 steps target was actually a marketing gimmick from 1960s Japan with no scientific backing, while new evidence shows 7,000 steps delivers the most dramatic health benefits.• The 10,000 steps goal originated from Japanese marketing, not science• Meta-analysis followed 161,000 adults across 24 global cohorts for seven years• 7,000 daily steps reduced death risk by 47% compared to 2,000 steps• Walking 7,000 steps cut hear...
2025-08-0426 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients71: Tylenol vs. NSAIDs: Which Pain Reliever Is Right For You?Send us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We break down the key differences between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) to help you make informed decisions about which pain reliever is right for you. This evidence-based discussion draws from top medical sources to explain how these common medications work differently in your body.• Tylenol works on perception of pain and fever in the brain but doesn't address inflammation• NSAIDs reduce pain, fever AND inflammation by blocking the prostaglandin cascade• Both medica...
2025-07-2827 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients70: PCOS: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options for PatientsSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.PCOS affects approximately one in ten women of reproductive age, creating a cascade of symptoms from irregular periods to fertility challenges. This common hormonal and metabolic condition has implications for long-term health beyond just reproductive concerns, including increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues.• PCOS is characterized by elevated androgens and insulin resistance• Symptoms include irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth, and weight management challenges• Diagnosis requires meeting at least two of thr...
2025-07-2123 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients69: Mediterranean Diet: Life Prolonging Benefits & Sample MealsSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.The Mediterranean diet is an evidence-based eating pattern that supports heart health, brain health, and longevity with delicious, sustainable food choices. We explore what makes this diet special and provide practical ways to incorporate its principles into everyday meals.• Core components include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil• Fish (especially fatty varieties like salmon) should be eaten regularly• Poultry, eggs, and dairy can be consumed in moderation• Red meat and processe...
2025-07-1453 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients68: Side Effects Broken Down: GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications ExplainedSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.On this episode discuss the side effects of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro offering practical strategies to manage these effects while still benefiting from the medications.• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) help manage type 2 diabetes, obesity, and can reduce cardiovascular risk• Most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation• "Sulfur burps" are a frequently reported side effect that some manage with Pepto-Bismol• Start with low dose...
2025-07-0748 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients67: Understanding Heat-Related Illness: Surviving Summer's Deadly ThreatSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We explore heat-related illnesses, from mild conditions to life-threatening emergencies, providing crucial information for staying safe during hot weather. We break down the six types of heat-related conditions and explain who's most vulnerable during extreme temperatures.• Young children, older adults, and those with chronic conditions face higher risks of heat illness• People taking beta blockers or diuretics may have compromised temperature regulation• Heat rash, cramps, and edema are milder conditions typically resolved with cooling and hy...
2025-06-3040 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients66: Medical Mishaps: When Patient Education Falls ShortSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We discuss an important patient education story about medication misunderstandings that could have led to serious harm, highlighting the gaps in healthcare instruction.• Nicole shares her experience with a broken toe and visit to urgent care• The hosts discuss their current reality TV favorites including Love Island and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders• A patient was discovered not removing the needle cap when trying to administer insulin• Another patient only took blood pressure medication once weekly d...
2025-06-2323 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients65: Pulse Oximeters May Fail People of Color: What You Need to KnowSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.We investigate how pulse oximeters – those small devices that clip onto your finger and measure oxygen levels – can show bias against people with darker skin tones. This critical medical tool may overestimate oxygen readings in Black patients, potentially leading to delayed or inadequate treatment.• Pulse oximeters use infrared light to measure blood oxygen, but melanin in darker skin can scatter this light and cause inaccurate readings• Studies show Black patients are nearly three times more likely t...
2025-06-1611 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients64: Insulin Resistance: Early Warning Signs, Metabolic Syndrome, DiabetesSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Insulin resistance often precedes diabetes by 5-10 years and serves as an early warning sign of potential damage to your cardiovascular system and other organs. We explore this common condition, its risk factors, and how simple lifestyle changes can reverse it before more serious health problems develop.• Insulin resistance occurs when muscles, liver, and fat cells fail to respond to normal levels of insulin• The pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, eventually leading to beta cell...
2025-06-0931 min
Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients63: Prediabetes Explained: Risks and Prevention of DiabetesSend us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.Prediabetes affects over one-third of Americans, yet 80% don't know they have it. We break down what this silent condition means for your health and provide practical strategies to prevent progression to diabetes.• Prediabetes is defined as blood sugar that's elevated but not high enough to be diabetes• Risk factors include being over 45, overweight, family history of diabetes, and certain racial backgrounds• Prediabetes independently increases risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease• Losing just 7...
2025-06-0234 min