Baptist HealthTalk

The COVID pandemic has raised awareness of mental health symptoms. Yet there is still a certain stigma attached to the subject. That stigma can make it particularly tough for men in our society, many of whom have been conditioned to believe they should be stoic and solve their problems by themselves. Experts say that cases of anxiety and depression among men of all ages often go unreported and untreated. 

In a recent episode of Baptist Health’s Resource Live program, host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. focused a spotlight on men’s mental health and how to reach out to men in your life who may be going through mental health challenges. 

Guests: 

• Rafael Rivas-Vazques, PsyD, neuropsychologist with Baptist Health South Florida
• Kevin Wandler, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Advanced Recovery Systems.

About 23% of adults in the United States have arthritis. The associated joint pain and stiffness can make everyday activities difficult --- so difficult, in fact, that 8-million working-age adults with arthritis report that their disease limits the kind of work they can do. 

Where can arthritis sufferers turn for hope and help?

Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., and his guest, Alan Saperstein, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine talk about symptoms, causes and both surgical and non-surgical options for managing arthritis. 

You may think only older people need to worry about having a stroke, but it can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.  Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the number-one cause of long-term disability.

Stroke deaths are preventable. The most important factor is time.

Stroke Prevention Awareness Month in May brought a panel of experts to the podcast, hosted by Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., chief population health office at Baptist Health South Florida. Their discussion ranged from stroke symptoms and risk factors to what to do if you see someone who is experiencing a stroke.

Panel guests were:

• Leo Huynh, D.O., chief of Emergency Medicine at Baptist Health's Baptist Hospital
• Felipe De Los Rios, M.D., director of the Stroke Program at Baptist Health's Miami Neuroscience Institute
• Brian Snelling, M.D., chief of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery and director of the Stroke Program at Marcus Neuroscience Institute

There's a lot of fear surrounding the topic of brain tumors - much of it due to widespread myths and misinformation linking brain tumors to everything from cell phones to sweeteners. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and a good time to separate facts from myths.

Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., chief population health officer with Baptist Health, welcomes Michael McDermott, M.D. to the podcast to offer his substantial expertise on the topic.  Dr. McDermott is a neurosurgeon and chief medical executive at Baptist Health's Miami Neuroscience Institute and is considered the number-one expert in the world on meningiomas, the most common primary brain tumors in adults.

As more Americans become vaccinated and we look forward with hope, there is a group of people who can’t seem to fully recover from the virus. These COVID “long hauler” patients say that their illness continues to limit their day-to-day activities months after they recuperated from the initial infection. This long-term public health issue is the focus of this episode, hosted by Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., deputy medical director and chief of cardiology at Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute with his guests:

Samer Fahmy, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health's Boca Raton Regional Hospital
David Mishkin, M.D., Emergency Medicine Specialist for Baptist Health
Madeline Camejo, Pharm.D., Chief Pharmacy Officer for Baptist Health

Racial and ethnic minorities are among the fastest growing of all communities in the United States, making up nearly 40% of the population. Yet studies show poorer health outcomes among minorities across a wide spectrum of diseases. This past year, we’ve seen that many people from minority groups are also at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19. 

National Minority Health Month in April highlights efforts to improve the health of people in racial and ethnic minority groups. One piece of this puzzle is aimed at increasing minority participation in clinical trials -- a priority for guest, Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., deputy director, chief scientific officer and chief of solid tumor medical oncology at Baptist Health’s Miami Cancer Institute.

The state of our health goes hand in hand with the health of the environment we live in. 

In honor of Earth Day, we look at how Baptist Health is working to reduce energy consumption and air pollution, conserve water, cut down on waste, and educate members of the communities we serve. 

Guest: Jason Bell, Assistant Vice President of Operations, Baptist Health South Florida.



  

In our culture, alcohol is everywhere.  We may have a drink or two at a family dinner or social occasion without even thinking about it. But studies have linked drinking with cancer, even when done in moderation.  Long-term use can cause serious health complications, and you don't have to suffer from the disease of alcoholism to experience the consequences.

In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month in April, host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., deputy medical director and chief of cardiology at Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, welcomed a panel of experts to look into the effects of alcohol, the nature of alcoholism and how to help someone who is battling an alcohol addiction.

Guests:
Thomas Hammond, M.D.; neurologist with Marcus Neuroscience Institute
Kaitlin Elsbeth Ross, M.D.; family medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care
Kevin Wandler, M.D.; Chief Medical Officer with Advanced Recovery Systems

When the pandemic began, companies across the U.S. abruptly closed their offices, asking employees to work from home. One year later, millions of people are still working remotely, many facing the additional challenges of juggling child care and remote schooling.

The boundary between our work lives and personal lives has become blurred, leading many to ask: "Am I working from home, or living at work?"

 Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. welcomed a panel of experts for a discussion about the physical and mental effects of working from home, and what we can do to keep ourselves healthy in this new paradigm.

 Guests on this episode are: 

·       Justin Thottam, D.O., back and neck pain physician at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute
·       Maria Ordonez, M.D., family medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care. 
·       Amy Exum, LMHC, psychotherapist with Baptist Health’s Community Health & Wellness

Can what we eat really affect our immune system?  You bet it can! 

Don’t be fooled, however, by confusing and misleading claims about so-called ‘super foods’ and over-the-counter dietary supplements.   

Host Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. and his guest, Lucette Talamas, a registered dietitian with Baptist Health’s community health program, separate facts from myths when it comes to the nutrients we need to support a healthy immune system. 

Get factual information about health and nutrition topics with Baptist Health's free online classes. For more information, go to the community health website or email [email protected].