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

1/7/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E04 - The Fentanyl Addiction Experience

Happy New Year to all, and best wishes for sticking with those resolutions!

Although a new year gives us a fresh start for many things, regrettably, that doesn't apply to everything.  Some issues in our communities know no bounds, transcending ages and communities and affecting all walks of life.  Perhaps one of the bigger concerns in this category is the Fentanyl crisis. 

Fentanyl addiction is something that many people in our communities are struggling with, and something that we as a society must continue to confront.  And one of the keys to solving any problem is understanding it, and in Episode 4 we'll be joined by Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr. Lauren Graber (MD, MPH), to give us insight into the crisis and the drug, and details of the experience for the individual.  What's it like to be addicted?   What's it like to go through withdrawal?  How long does it last?  And how do doctors actually help get people clean?  This episode is a great chance to better understand the particulars of dealing with both the drug and the crisis, and it's packed with essential information for all of us.  Please join us.


Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

12/24/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E03 - "Knock Knock, Hi!" with THIS Guy!

The end of the year is here, so we thought we'd wrap it up with a fun one for Episode 3.   Recently, Dr. Hilden was the featured guest on the "Knock Knock, Hi!" podcast with none other than internet sensations Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken!   So we're re-airing that episode here for all to enjoy!  Get all the details about the life of an internal medicine doctor in the Midwest, a bird's-eye view of a busy safety net hospital, Dr. Hilden's rankings for 10 of your organs, and more!  There's plenty of laughs and stories here, but before we get to the humor, Dr. Hilden answers a listener's question about something we all love - but likely get waaay too much of - Salt.  Join us!

From all of us here at The Healthy Matters Podcast, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.  Much more to come in '24!

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

12/10/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E02 - The Mighty Liver...

In Greek mythology, Prometheus' punishment for stealing fire from Zeus was to be chained to a rock where every day an eagle would come and eat part of his liver (harsh!).  And since the liver is the only solid organ in the human body that grows back, that eagle must have been pretty well-fed.  But why do we even need a liver?  What happens to us when something goes wrong with it?  And what can we do to take care of it?

On Episode 2 of this season, we'll have an in-depth conversation about this unsung hero of the human body with Dr. José Debes (MD, MS, PhD), gastroenterologist at Hennepin Healthcare, and associate professor and researcher at the University of Minnesota.   This episode is loaded with interesting facts about the liver, explanations of the different ailments associated with it, ways we can limit the stress we put on it, and the role coffee plays.  Yep, coffee...  Join us!

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

11/26/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E01 - Real Talk with An Emergency Medicine Doctor

There are seemingly as many careers in medicine as there are lakes in Minnesota (and we're talking well over 10,000 of those...), but many of the most intense jobs in the field are found in the Emergency Department.  It takes a certain kind of person to want to become a physician, and on another level to want to practice Emergency Medicine in a Level I Trauma Center!  Thankfully, there are doctors like this, and for our first episode of Season 3, we'll be joined by Emergency Medicine Physician and Toxicologist, Dr. John Cole to help us get a glimpse into this highest-of-stakes and stressful environment. 

What's life like there?  What are the biggest challenges healthcare professionals in the ED face?  And how does one cope with the stresses of such place?   Join us for a conversation addressing these questions, plus a few of Jon's most memorable cases and the debut of an all-new segment for Season 3 - Magic Wand!  Tune in!

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

11/12/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S02_E24 - Let's Talk Kidneys!

Kidneys.  They made Dr. Hilden's top 3 favorite organ list in a recent poll - but why?  What do they actually do?  What are kidney stones (and better yet, how can one best avoid them)?  And if we really only need one, why do we have two?

Join us for the final episode of Season 2, as Dr. Hilden and Hennepin Healthcare Neprhologist (that's a fancy word for Kidney Doctor) Dr. Jennifer Wu explore the wide world of kidneys!  Turns out, they're an essential piece of our biological puzzle.  But what happens when things go wrong?   What are some of the common issues with them?  And what can be done to help keep our kidneys healthy?  Tune in and find out!


Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

10/29/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S02_E23 - 10 Tips for Reducing Pain at Work!

There's no doubt about it, Monday mornings can be painful.  And for many of us, the pain doesn't stop there!  Work is a part of life, and there's nothing we can really do to speed up the day or make your boss a little less nagging, but in this episode we'll explore 10 tips for reducing the other pains we can experience at work, with Hennepin Healthcare's Catherine Justice (PT, DPT, CST, C-IAYT, E-RYT).

Catherine is an Integrative Physical Therapist and the Program Manager for Integrative Health at Hennepin Healthcare and she'll walk us through 10 essentials for making work, and life in general, a little less painful.  From the importance of hydrating and fidgeting (!)- to the benefits of active and passive rejuvenation and improving your ergonomics, this episode has lots of great tips to help get you through the day with less pain.  Join us!

If you live in, or near Minnesota, here's a great link to non-opioid, non-pharmacological pain treatment methods, options, and providers across the state:  nopainmn.org

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org

10/15/23

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S02_E22 - All About Eyes!

Got eyes?  Many of us do.  Got issues with your eyes?  Turns out many of us have that as well!  From dry eyes to floaters, to reduced sharpness in our vision - or worse, glaucoma and cataracts - we're all likely to experience some of the more common issues with our eyes over the course of our lives. 

But what are these conditions and how can we best care for our eyesight?  On Episode 22 of the podcast, we'll be joined by the Department Chair of Ophthalmology at Hennepin Healthcare, Dr. Kevin Engel (MD, PhD).  He'll help us break down the most common eye conditions, provide useful tips on how to keep your eyes healthy and dispel some of the myths around eyes and eyesight.  He'll also make sure we know the golden rule regarding the "keeps the red out" eyedrops (don't use them!) and explain once and for all, what the difference is between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist!  Join us! 

Got a question for the doc?  Or an idea for a show?  Contact us!

Email - [email protected]

Call - 612-873-TALK (8255)

Find out more at www.healthymatters.org