Nurses are an unstoppable force. They’re at the center of our healthcare system and play a vital role in providing care, comfort and compassion for their patients and patients’ families.

Despite their caring demeanor, nurses would rather not see you in the hospital. Preventive healthcare is their priority for patients—getting regular checkups and keeping health concerns from developing into a serious condition is key to avoiding the hospital, not to mention the intensive care unit.

They work hard. During the pandemic, and even before, nurses have experienced burnout. They emotionally invest in their patients and patients’ families, which can be mentally exhausting, especially during tough times. It’s even contributed to the national nurse shortage.

For all they do, we’re honored to give a shoutout to nurses, our heroes in healthcare.

In Episode 36, you’ll learn more about nurse life and the future of nursing as Mark Gomez, MD, talks with guests.

 

Guests

Marguerite Manseau, RN – Registered nurse, Edward Hospital intensive care unit.

Marijana Vidovic, RN – Registered nurse, Elmhurst Hospital progressive critical care unit.

Surgery, whether elective or emergency, is done for many reasons. It’s important for patients to be informed. 

Colonoscopy? Biopsy? C-section? Tonsillectomy? All surgical procedures.

Chances are, you’ll need some type of surgery, whether minor or major, at some point in your life. 

Surgery has changed a lot over the years, from the primitive methods of the Stone Age and Middle Ages to today’s minimally invasive procedures completed with an incision the size of a keyhole.

Surgeons and surgery are commonly misunderstood. And the idea of being cut open is understandably frightening, no matter how minor the procedure.

But the more you know about something, the less mysterious and scary it becomes (knowledge is power!).

In Episode 35, you’ll learn more about what makes surgeons tick and get details on some of the most common surgical procedures from Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Peter Petratos, MD.

Gambling is a multi-billion-dollar industry that covers a wide spread of age groups, from middle school kids to the elderly. It’s estimated Americans spend more than 40 billion dollars a year on gambling. 

Gambling is easy to access and can be done in a variety of ways. While many who gamble only do so occasionally, a significant portion of the population is classified as compulsive gamblers. 

There’s nothing wrong with gambling — unless it causes problems for you or your family, or negatively affects other aspects of your life. Compulsive gamblers struggle with the ability to control their gambling habits. Gambling addiction can affect the gambler’s health, as well as their family, finances, job and relationships.

Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest Glen Cannon, LCPC, discuss how to identify a gambling addiction and the options available for treatment.

 

Guest

Glen Cannon, LCPC – Licensed clinical professional counselor, Baber Psychiatric Group.

It’s that time of year when every day seems long and dark. You’ve probably heard of winter blues —you’ve probably even felt them yourself at some point.

The winter blues—or having cold weather and shorter, darker days of winter influencing how we think or feel—are very common. It’s hard for anyone to get through a cold, dark winter without feeling dragged down by it at some point.

So, what’s the difference between the “winter blues” and a more serious seasonal depression?

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is different, and more serious, than the winter blues. There are stronger, more consistently negative feelings. People feel more lethargic, less motivated. They are more likely to withdraw from friends and family.

Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest Dylan Panuska, PsyD, CADC, talk about SAD, mental health and how to feel better.

 

Guest

Dylan Panuska, PsyD, CADC – Manager, behavioral health integration, Linden Oaks Medical Group.

When you look at how far we’ve come with technology in just the last two decades, it’s kind of mind-blowing. 

Between the rise of tech and the increased societal focus on health and wellness, the healthcare technology industry is shifting. 

Technology makes life easier, doesn’t it? And wearable technology puts personal health information right on your wrist. Healthcare is expected to become even more human-centric and personalized moving forward.

From the early days of vaccinations to public health measures like seatbelts to advanced medical technology, healthcare has come a long way and health technology continues to evolve. So, what does the future of medicine look like?

Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, and John Lee, MD, discuss what we might see in the future of healthcare in Episode 32.

 

Guests

Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, MBA, MPH – President and CEO at UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint Accountable Care; Board-certified family medicine physician.

John Lee, MD – Data advocate, board-certified emergency medicine physician; Senior vice president and chief medical information officer at Allegheny Health Network.

Everyone wants to smell better, right? People invest a lot of money in products to stifle and alter their natural scent.

But body odor is normal and natural, and it can be good and bad.

Interestingly, all body odor provides clues about our health. And everyone has their own unique odor, though generally speaking, the scent (stench?) of body odor is unmistakable. 

What’s the best way to manage body odor? What if you sweat too much? Can what you eat affect the way you smell?

Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Alix Charles, MD, cover everything from sweat stains to shaving your underarms to using your odor to attract a new romantic partner in Episode 31.

 

Guest

Alix Charles, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist and department chairman, division of dermatology at Duly Health & Care.

Our daily lifestyle choices matter more than we realize. It’s easy to fall into a less-healthy routine of convenience and imbalance. It’s also easy to procrastinate on matters of personal health, putting other people and responsibilities ahead of our own wellness. So how can we motivate ourselves to live healthier or to reach a wellness goal?

This is the perfect time to set a goal, develop a plan to reach it and track your progress. When you invest in yourself, you’re investing in not only your health but the health of the people around you.

Start with what’s important to you, and why. What’s your wellness goal for the new year? Where do you envision yourself? Sometimes the distance between our goal and our current situation can seem impossibly far—but it doesn’t have to be! 

In Episode 30, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Gay Purcell, MD, explain how to establish a healthy routine and create a doable plan to reach your wellness goals.

Guest

Gay Purcell, MD – Board-certified internist, founder and owner of Enhanced Health & Wellness;  MDVIP Affiliate Physician.

The brain is arguably the most complex organ in the human body. A person’s brain determines how they experience the world. Calling the brain “three pounds of remarkable” is truly an understatement. 

Your brain is fascinating, and its storage capacity is basically unlimited. Brain mapping and neurofeedback are foreign concepts to many, despite the growing body of evidence supporting their impact on focus, relaxation and other areas. 

So, what is brain mapping? It’s basically looking under the hood, so to speak, to figure out what is happening in someone’s brain that could be causing symptoms such as anxiety, depression or difficulty concentrating. Technology can analyze brain waves to help identify areas of the brain that are “stuck” in a pattern of high arousal or low activity.

If you’re looking to discover how powerful the brain can be, brain mapping and neurofeedback could be right for you.

In Episode 29, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Kyle Bonesteel, PhD, ABPP-CN, BCN, explain brain mapping and neurofeedback and what it can do for you.

 

Guest

Kyle Bonesteel, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, BCN – Board-certified Neuropsychologist; President and Founder at Neurohealth.

Chronic pain is a serious health condition that has many causes, including injuries, illnesses and prolonged physical, emotional or social stress. In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that an estimated 50 million Americans have some form of chronic pain.

Having to live with pain is uniquely personal. Factors like isolation, chronic stress, depression, anger and anxiety can exacerbate chronic pain. 

Everyone deserves the best physical function and quality of life possible. When there isn’t a way to cure the pain, physicians look for ways to manage it so a person can improve their quality life. The most successful way to accomplish this is with a multi-faceted, individualized approach, which can include support from the person’s family and friends, consultations with a personal physician and specialists, and physical and alternative therapy.

In Episode 28, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, David Peng, MD, discuss the causes of and treatment strategies for chronic pain.

 

 

Guest

David Peng, MD – Board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician, Medical Director at Edward Neuroscience Institute Pain Clinic.

Moms and moms-to-be deserve the best care. This is especially true when it comes to mental health. The joy of motherhood is often the focus, but it’s important to acknowledge that having a baby can be challenging in sometimes unanticipated ways. 

The “baby blues” tend to strike after birth and are fairly common. Women experience a drop in hormones after giving birth, and often feel overwhelmed and stressed with a new baby at home.

Postpartum depression goes beyond baby blues. It’s a persistent sense of feeling overwhelmed and sad that lasts longer than the baby blues and is more severe. It can impact a woman’s ability to do her usual daily activities – women may have trouble sleeping, making meals, showering or driving.

Postpartum depression, a type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, is both common and treatable. Our goal in episode 27 is to help listeners better understand postpartum depression, learn to recognize the signs and identify resources for treatment.

Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH, and Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, CD (DONA), discuss postpartum depression and when it’s time to seek help. 

Guests

Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH – Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Tulane University.

Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, CD (DONA) – Birth professional, educator, anti-racism strategist and attorney, Ravae Sinclair Consulting.