This week on Health Matters, Courtney Allison heads to NewYork-Presbyterian's Teddy Bear Clinic, where she asks kids what they want to know about their health. Then she sits down with Dr. Robert Hagerty, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of New York, to get answers.

Dr. Hagerty helps explains the risks and benefits of screen time, why it’s important to get a lot of sleep when you’re a kid, and how vaccines can help our bodies fight infections. He also addresses parents’ health concerns for their children and explains why the standard schedule for vaccines is the gold standard for care.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

This week on Health Matters, Courtney Allison is joined by Dr. Alessandro Fichera, chief of colon and rectal surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the recent rise of colorectal cancer in people under 50, and explore what might be one reason behind it—the eating habits of the typical Western diet.

Dr. Fichera offers health tips for lowering cancer risk. It turns out, there are simple steps we could all take to give our hard-working guts the support they need. From eating more natural fiber to staying hydrated, Dr. Fichera explains some surprising links between the choices we make about our lifestyle and the risk of colorectal cancer.

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Dr. Alessandro Fichera is Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Alessandro Fichera received his medical degree from Catholic University of Rome, Italy in 1989. Since then, he has studied, practiced, and taught colorectal surgery across the United States: taking prestigious positions and leading departments of surgery in Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, and beyond. He serves on the ASCRS Executive Council and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation National Scientific Advisory Committee.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

In recognition of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we’re revisiting an important episode focused on disordered eating. Angelique Serrano speaks with Dr. Evelyn Attia, Director of the Center for Eating Disorders at NewYork-Presbyterian. They discuss the differences between healthy and unhealthy eating, how to recognize the signs of eating disorders, and what treatment options are available today. Dr. Attia offers guidelines for people of all ages who want to have a healthy relationship with food.

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Dr. Evelyn Attia is Director of the Center for Eating Disorders at New York-Presbyterian, an integrated clinical research program at both Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Medical Centers. Dr. Attia is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Formerly the director of the inpatient eating disorders program at The New York State Psychiatric Institute, Dr.  Attia has more recently focused on research involving the psychobiology and treatment of anorexia nervosa. Since 1999, she has received uninterrupted funding for her research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Attia is a member of the eating disorders work-group for DSM-5. She is also a member of The Eating Disorders Research Society and has been elected Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders. (source)

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

This week on Health Matters, as we continue to observe Heart Month, we will explore the role that genetics play in heart health.

Understanding your family history of cardiovascular health is essential. In fact, about 30% of heart disease can be linked to family history. We speak with Dr. Jessica Hennessy, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist and cardiogenetics expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to help break down which heart conditions and risk factors may be inherited. She provides valuable insight on effectively managing heart health, including the importance of lifestyle modifications in preventing heart disease, including for individuals with a genetic predisposition. She also explains who should get genetic testing and what that process looks like.

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Dr. Jessica Hennessey specializes in Cardiac Electrophysiology, with a special focus on Sports & Exercise Cardiology. She practices primarily in New York, NY, and is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Hennessey graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 2014, and completed her training at Massachusetts General Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Electrophysiology.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

This week on Health Matters, Courtney Allison is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Steven Mazza of NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to explore how to improve your listening skills and the powerful benefits of being a good listener.

Dr. Mazza explains how focusing on our own thoughts can keep us from listening well and really connecting with the people we care about. He also describes the surprising ways that our own minds may be the biggest obstacle to being fully present, and he offers advice for anyone who wants to retrain their brain and learn better listening.

Listening better can lead to significant benefits in relationships with parents, children, friends, and coworkers. Becoming a better listener might be a lifelong process, but Dr. Mazza offers simple tips to start.

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Steven J Mazza, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Director of the ABC Early Childhood Program at ColumbiaDoctors. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD), where he specialized in applying cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Mazza is the clinical director of the ABC Early Childhood Program, which provides evidence-based treatments for emotional and behavioral difficulties in children ages 2-8. Dr. Mazza is a public speaker who conducts trainings for leadership teams, caregivers, educators, and summer camp counselors.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

February is Heart Month, so this week on Health Matters we talk about heart health with Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis, a cardiologist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. He reminds us: heart disease is the number one cause of death in the western world for both men and women. So: what can we do about it?

We explored a number of the common misconceptions about heart health that keep people from making small changes that lead to a big difference for addressing coronary artery disease, heart failure, and other kinds of heart disease. From diet and exercise to smoking and sleep, Dr. Moustakakis offered his top health tips for creating lifelong, heart healthy habits.

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Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis is a board certified Cardiologist specializing in Interventional Cardiology practicing at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Houston Medical School, completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowships in both Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Moustakakis is certified in Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disease with interest in acute coronary syndromes. Dr. Moustakakis is the Director of the Coronary Care Unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

This week on Health Matters we look back at health tips and takeaways from the month of January, and discuss what healthy habits are sticking. Courtney is joined by Health Matters editor Angelique Serrano to explore the top health takeaways from our episodes on cold plunges, workouts, the health risks of alcohol and ultraprocessed foods.

In their conversations with Health Matters, Dr. Sonia Tolani and Dr. Asad Siddiqi also shared inspiring resolutions for 2025 that provide examples for overcoming setbacks and sticking to goals. Dr. Robert Brown and Dr. Michelle Loy offer some additional helpful tips for pursuing a healthy lifestyle when it comes to what we eat and drink.

Courtney and Angelique share how the advice from NewYork-Presbyterian doctors has offered them ways to make healthy changes in their own lives.

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Health Matters shares stories of science, care, and wellness from NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare systems.

NewYork-Presbyterian’s Health Matters features the latest news and insights from our world-class physicians, nurses, and experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our academic partners Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine.

To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org/ 

This week on Health Matters, host Courtney Allison talks to Dr. Sonia Tolani, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, about sustainable approaches to working out. They cover everything from understanding fitness metrics like VO2 Max and zone training to helpful tips for building exercise into your daily routine. Dr. Tolani also gives some great advice on how to reframe exercise when it feels intimidating and explains how you can build healthy habits into your day-to-day activities over time.  

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Health Matters was created to share the remarkable stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare delivery networks.

In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long history of medical excellence, Health Matters features the latest news and insights from our world-class physicians, nurses, and experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our academic partners Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.

To learn more visit: 

https://healthmatters.nyp.org

This week on Health Matters, host Courtney Allison talks to  integrative health specialist. Dr. Michelle Loy, who breaks down the differences between whole, processed, and ultraprocessed foods. She discusses the health risks associated with ultraprocessed foods, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. Dr. Loy provides practical tips for identifying ultraprocessed foods in grocery stores and offers budget-friendly strategies for incorporating more whole foods into diets, such as meal prepping, using frozen vegetables, and making homemade sauces.
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Health Matters was created to share the remarkable stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare delivery networks.

In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long history of medical excellence, Health Matters features the latest news and insights from our world-class physicians, nurses, and experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our academic partners Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.

To learn more visit: 

https://healthmatters.nyp.org

In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison discusses the latest studies on the health risks associated with alcohol use with Dr. Robert Brown, chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss how alcohol affects various organs, including your liver, heart, and brain, as well as its link to several cancers. Dr. Brown discusses the cultural perception of alcohol, the current guidelines around safe drinking limits, and how binge drinking harms the body. 
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Health Matters was created to share the remarkable stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare delivery networks.

In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long history of medical excellence, Health Matters features the latest news and insights from our world-class physicians, nurses, and experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our academic partners Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.

To learn more visit: 

https://healthmatters.nyp.org