Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health

In this episode, infectious diseases expert Dr. John Zurlo returns to the podcast to provide essential updates on the latest COVID-19 booster. As we move into the fall season, Dr. Zurlo shares crucial information about whether you should consider getting the updated COVID booster and how to time your flu shot this year for maximum protection.

Dr. Zurlo also offers a reminder on what to do if you test positive for COVID, including common symptoms and treatment options. Plus, he provides an update on long COVID, including what symptoms to look out for and how to best advocate for yourself if you think you might have it.

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.

According to the National Institute on Aging, more than one million women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) in the United States experience menopause each year. Yet, understanding its symptoms and treatment pathways remains a mystery for many.

“For every woman, it's an individual journey,” explains Dr. Robyn Faye, a gynecologist and a certified menopause practitioner through the Menopause Society. “I think some women think that their journey is going to be really easy and they're shocked at how difficult it can be. For some women, it's only going to be some hot flashes and some night sweats. For some women, it's just going to be the period is going to change and it's going to stop. And for some women, it's going to be over a hundred different symptoms.”

Dr. Faye joins the podcast to provide a comprehensive overview of menopause. She discusses the different stages, symptoms, and treatment options, emphasizing the unique experiences of each woman. Dr. Faye also highlights the importance of open communication and finding support during this transitional period.

Resources:

• Jefferson Health Wellness Webinar: Let’s Talk About Menopause

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.

Our miniseries on how stress affects the body concludes with a focus on gut health. In this episode, gastroenterologist Dr. Cuckoo Choudhary shares the ways stress shapes our digestive system and how it can affect gastrointestinal motility, sensitivity, gut microbiome and more. 

Dr. Choudhary also discusses symptoms of stress-related GI issues and shares how some chronic GI disorders can be triggered or aggravated by stress in genetically predisposed individuals. We also talk about ways to maintain a healthy gut, including diet tips and stress techniques.  

Resources:  

• Miniseries | How Stress Affects the Body: Heart Episode (1/3) 

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean. 

Welcome to part two of our three-part series examining the effects of stress on the body. In this episode, neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Zhikui Wei discusses how stress specifically impacts how the nervous system functions, including the brain.   

Dr. Wei explains the distinction between acute and chronic stress responses, delving into how both types of stress affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, tissue remodeling in the brain, and overall mental health. He also offers insights on recognizing symptoms of stress and shares tips for managing stress, including the mindfulness practice he uses to reduce stress in his life. 

Resources: 

• Top Sleep Mistakes and How to Get Better Sleep 

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean. 

Welcome to part one of our three-part series examining the effects of stress on the body. In this episode, interventional cardiologist Dr. David Fischman discusses how stress specifically impacts heart health.

Dr. Fischman discusses the differences between acute and chronic stress on the heart and why taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Learn about broken heart syndrome and the symptoms of heart disease, plus, his tips on stress management.

Resources:

• Cardiac Widow TikTok

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.

Navigating the world of diets and nutrition is no easy task, especially as new diets and trends fight for your attention on social media channels like TikTok and Instagram.  

If you’ve ever wondered if the Keto Diet might be for you, if intermittent fasting could bring you to your weight loss goals, if juicing could help boost your nutritional intake and detox your body, or what exactly “girl dinner” means and how to make one, this episode featuring registered dietitian and licensed dietitian nutritionist Sara Hoffman is for you.  

Sara breaks down diets and trends into three categories: trends to leave behind in 2023, those to approach with caution, and those that get a gold-star from Sara. Here are the trends and the minute-mark in which they are discussed: 

Trends to leave behind in 2023: 

• Keto Diet: 2:05 

Trends to approach with caution: 

• Meal replacement shakes/shake-based diets: 15:45 

Dietitian-approved trends: 

• “Girl Dinner”: 39:44 

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean. 

If you’ve experienced any history of cardiac disease or have an established cardiac diagnosis, you’re likely already regularly seeing a cardiologist. But what if you haven’t? At what point should a cardiologist be a part of your healthcare team? 

Cardiologist, Dr. Darius Farzad joins this podcast to answer this question and more. We discuss everything from how your lifestyle could be helping or hurting your heart health, the causes of heart disease, how to manage high cholesterol and the unassuming symptoms you need to be aware of that could be distress signals from your heart. 

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean. 

Infectious diseases expert Dr. John Zurlo returns to the podcast to offer the latest information on COVID-19, including pertinent information on the new boosters and the state of our herd immunity. He also weighs in on who should consider wearing face masks as we see an uptick in COVID cases again this fall.  

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.

Gastroenterologist Dr. David Kastenberg says there’s a reason the stomach is referred to as a “second brain.” There are more neurons in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract than there are in the brain. So, if you ever have a “gut feeling” something is wrong, about your health or in your day-to-day life, there’s good reason to listen. There’s also good reason to listen to this episode, dedicated to GI health.

In this episode, Dr. Kastenberg discusses food sensitivities and intolerances, the FODMAP diet, probiotics and prebiotics, common GI disorders and alarming symptoms that you should never ignore. Plus, he offers his perspective on colonoscopy prep and breaks down everything you need to know about colon cancer, including why it’s on the rise in younger patient demographics and what symptoms might lead your GI provider to recommend a screening.

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.

In this episode, primary care physicians Drs. Tito Mantilla and Arun Thomas share the top questions their patients are bringing to their appointments. They offer their thoughts on weight loss medications, the importance of preventative screenings, managing chronic disease, when is the right time to start anxiety medications and more.  

Listen and subscribe to the Living Well Podcast by Jefferson Health on your preferred players: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean.