05/26/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E14 - Brainstorms and Breakthroughs - The Science of Strokes

Chances are we've all known someone who has suffered a stroke, and it turns out they're a lot more common than we might think - nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. every year.  Brain health is essential to our wellbeing and suffering a stroke can have profound and even life-altering effects, assuming the patient survives the event.   But how can we identify a stroke?  What should we do when we see one?  What treatments and therapies are available - or better yet, what can we do to protect our brains?

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and on Episode 14 we'll have the big brain on brains on our show, Neurologist Dr. Behnam Sabayan (MD, PhD) who will help us get our brains around this essential topic.  We'll go over what happens in the brain, risk factors, treatments, and outcomes for patients, as well as what keeps our brains happy and healthy.  Since time is of the essence whenever someone is having a stroke, we'll also break down the BE FAST acronym to give you the tools to identify and respond to someone having a stroke.  There's a lot to know about the brain when it comes to strokes, and we've got just the guest to walk us through it.  We hope you'll join us!

Here are some resources:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The American Stroke Association
Hennepin Healthcare Stroke Center

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Keep an eye out for upcoming shows on social media!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

05/12/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E13 - Focus on Psychosis - A Conversation with a Clinical Psychologist

Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder, Hallucinations, Bipolar Disorder...  These are some of the many conditions that fall under the category of Psycosis.  But did you know that 1 in every 30 people in the U.S. will experience a psychotic event at some point in their life?  But who is most at risk?  What are some of the early signs?  How is psychosis diagnosed and what treatments do we have?

It's safe to say psychosis has been given an imperfect definition in the media and in entertainment over the years.  Psychotic episodes typically occur when someone has difficulty telling the difference between what's real and what's not.  These conditions can take many forms and they are treated in a variety of ways, but thankfully it's been a long time since the era of asylums.  But what's the current state of affairs around these conditions?   Joining us on Episode 13 is Dr. Marielle Demarais, PhD, LP, who will help us better define psychosis and walk us through the current diagnoses, treatments and supports available to patients and their loved ones.  We'll also field a few listener questions on the subject as well!  

Although psychosis might be more common than you think, it might not be exactly what you've been lead to believe.  We hope you'll join us to find out more!

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Keep an eye out for upcoming shows on social media!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

04/28/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E12 - Strengthening Our Understanding of the Pelvic Floor

The Pelvic Floor.   Everyone with a pelvis, has a pelvic floor.  But what is it?  For starters, it's something many of us take for granted - until issues arise...  And although pelvic floor issues commonly effect women, they effect plenty of men as well.   From feeling like you need to sprint to the bathroom every five minutes, to anxiety around the body's ability to "hold it", to experiencing discomfort during intimate moments, these conditions can really throw a wrench in your day.  But fear not, because understanding what's going on down there is the first step towards regaining control.

The pelvic floor is responsible for a lot of important behind the scenes functions in our body, and when conditions such as incontinence, prolapse or pelvic pain arise, it's important to know what can be done to get things back on track.  On this episode we'll be joined by Dr. Beth Stegora, an expert in pelvic floor conditions and therapies for treating them.  We'll identify and define the most common conditions and go over the diagnosis, treatments and resources available to help those dealing with these all-too-common issues.   We hope you'll join us!

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

04/14/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E11 - Keeping Up with Pacemakers

The heart is pretty amazing.  In the orchestra the human body, the heart is the conductor, but sometimes, even the most skilled maestro needs a little backup.  Enter pacemakers, the tiny conductors that can help us keep the beat.  But when might you need one?  How are they implanted?  How long do they last?  And can I still use the microwave?

Join us to learn about the world of pacemakers with our guest, Dr. Rehan Karim.  He's an electrophysiologist (fantastic scrabble word, btw...) and he'll walk us through some basics on the electrical system of our hearts, how pacemakers work, what the lived experience is like with one, and some of the latest developments for this amazing technology.  Did you know that the first pacemaker was made in MInnesota?  Find out more about these life-changing devices, on Episode 11!

You can learn more about heart health issues and find helpful resources here.

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

3/31/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E10 - Getting a Better Understanding of ALS

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a rare but serious condition that affects around 5 people in every 100,000, but due to its devastating effects on both the patient and the caregivers, it's something that certainly merits a deeper conversation.  Lou Gehrig and Steven Hawking may be the two most well-known cases, but it seems once ALS is mentioned, many people are in one way or another connected to it.  But what's actually happening in the body?  What do we think causes it?  What is the progression of the illness like and what are the current treatments available? 

There's still a lot out there that we don't know about the disease, but the medical community is making strides every day to help support those living with the condition to lead fulfilling lives. On Episode 10 of the podcast, we'll have an in-depth conversation with Dr. Sam Maiser, MD, Chair of Neurology at Hennepin Healthcare and an expert on ALS, to help us get a better understanding of the disease.  We'll explore what is known and still unknown, what the experience is like for the patient and caregivers, available treatments and resources, and what the future may hold for those living with this disease.  It's a thoughtful conversation with a dedicated specialist on one of medicine's most challenging topics.  We hope you'll join us.

You can learn more about ALS and find helpful resources for patients and caregivers here.

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

3/17/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E09 - Cholesterol:  The Good, The Bad and the Triglycerides...

Cholesterol can be a confusing subject for many of us.  And, as many of us can attest to, seeing the results from a lipid panel can be like reading a foreign language.  What's a safe range?  Does good cholesterol cancel out the bad?  And what is a lipid, anyway? 

It turns out cholesterol is a necessary piece of the human puzzle, but like a lot things, too much of anything is likely not good.  But what can be done to help us in the battle for better numbers?  Thankfully on Episode 9 of the show, we'll have the help of Hennepin Healthcare cardiologist, Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew, MD, to break down some of the terms and concepts around cholesterol and get us a better feel for what we're up against.  He'll give insight on how to calculate risk of a heart attack (there's a cool online calculator here!), what we can do to keep our cholesterol in check, the role of statins, and more !  We've all got cholesterol, so there's something here for everyone - join us!

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

3/3/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E08 - Getting our Brains Around TBI and Concussions

Brains!  We've all got 'em.  (Well, perhaps some of us more than others...)  But it's estimated that almost 50% (!) of all adults in the U.S. have experienced a concussive event or some sort of traumatic brain injury in their lifetime.  That's a staggering statistic, and on Episode 8 of the show, we'll be joined by Dr. Matthew Puderbaugh to help us define what a traumatic brain injury is, how to identify one, and what to do when we see one.

Dr. Puderbaugh is an Air Force veteran and assists on the sidelines of the NFL, so it's safe to say he's seen a number of these over the years.  He'll help us wrap our brains around what's happening when concussive events occur, how they're treated, and the effect they can have on our emotional states.  After a concussive event:  Is it best to avoid light?  Do you have to stay awake?  How long does it take to recover?   Join us for the conversation and get answers to these questions and more, on Episode 8!

If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury, be sure and check out the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance website for resources and support!

Got a question for the doc or a comment on the show?

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

2/18/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E07 - The Bone Zone: Insights on Osteoporosis and Healthy Bones

Ever wonder why we shrink in old age?  Is it true that astronauts lose bone mass in space?  And does all milk have the same amount of calcium?  There are over 200 bones in the human body and it's safe to say each plays a pretty important role, so of course it's important to keep them healthy!  But what's the best way to go about that?  What are some of the things that can go wrong with them?  And what is a "T-score" anyway?

Thankfully, on Episode 7 of the show, we'll be joined by Endocrinologist and author, Dr. Ann Kearns (MD, PhD), of Hennepin Healthcare to help get some information and advice on our precious frames.  We'll go over the best practices for keeping our bones healthy, the common causes when things go awry, and options available to us in the event that they do.  Doctor Kearns literally wrote the book on Osteoporosis, which you can find here!  We all have bones, and we all age, so there's a ton of essential information here for everyone.  We hope you'll join us!

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  We're all ears...

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

2/4/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E06 - Let's Talk IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

It's not uncommon that the terms IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) get confused.  Both have to do with your guts, both have impacted the lives of many in today's society and both could probably be explained a bit more.   We plan on getting to both of them, but for starters, in Episode 6 of the show, we're going to take a better look into IBD with the help of Hennepin Healthcare Gastroenterologist, Dr. Jake Matlock!

Dr. Matlock has helped us break down many other GI issues on our show and this time around he'll help us better understand the origins, diagnosis, and treatments of both Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.  How common are they?  Are they hereditary?  How do they differ from IBS?  What can be done to treat them?  And what is "The Pill Cam"?  When it comes to our guts, there's a lot to know, so come get wise with us!

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  We're all ears...

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

1/21/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E05 - Listen up!  We're talking to an Audiologist...

The Stapes!  Tinnitus!  Ear Wax!

Approximately 20% of the worldwide population suffers from hearing loss (and around 100% suffer from ear wax... Eeeew).  But what can be done to protect our hearing?  Is hearing loss permanent?  What's that ringing in my ears?  And why do we have earwax to begin with?   

When it comes to your ears and your hearing, there's a lot to know, so we thought it'd be a good idea to have an in-depth conversation with Hennepin Healthcare Audiologist, Dr. Janet Hansen.  She's an expert in the field of hearing and will help us get a better understanding of our ears, our hearing, and what can be done when things go awry.  Join us and learn about the bummer that is tinnitus, our hearing thresholds, and a common New York Times Crossword Puzzle clue that stumps so many of us...  Check it out!

Here are some helpful resources that we discussed in the episode if you want to learn more:
- American Academy of Audiology
- ASHA: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  We're all ears...

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org