Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry

So let's talk about Senator Mitch McConnell...

A lot of you may have seen it, but for those who have not, 81-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell suddenly froze mid-sentence at a podium during a press conference last Wednesday. This caused concerns from the public, for he appeared to be staring at blank space for 19 complete seconds. From questions about seizures to ones asking whether or not the Senator is a robot—all these conspiracy theories circulated since then.

But is he really a robot? Did he really have a seizure? Is he really fine, just as he told the press seconds after coming back to the podium?

What do you think happened with Senator McConnell?

Join me as I talk about this incident and highlight the importance of recognizing symptoms in others, as such could indicate serious health concerns.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Learn about what happened to Senator Mitch McConnell during a speech last Wednesday;
• Be educated about the signs and symptoms of mini-strokes, seizures, and dementia; and
• Understand how by knowing, you can hopefully save someone from the worst

"Obviously, we don't want to learn by example, but it's much easier to see something happen especially on the national stage and be like, 'Oh, that's what that is."– Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"I think it was a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), which is a mini-stroke, and the reason why I think it's a mini-stroke is (1) because he was able to eventually snap out of it, which we'll see in the video, but (2) the fact that it looked like all of the symptoms of a person who've had a stroke." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"When we're trying to separate the two—TIA vs. an actual stroke—it's when you have tissue death that occurs." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"A lot of people don't realize that patients with advanced dementia, a lot of them don't speak. And you may be wondering what in the disease process causes patients with dementia not to speak; it's literally because they forget how to." – Dr. Berry Pierre

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In this week's episode of the Real Physician Reacts series, we're examining and comparing the newest weight loss drugs on the market: Mounjaro and Wegovy. As these drugs become more prevalent, understanding their mechanisms, effectiveness, and side effects is crucial for informed healthcare decisions.

Click here to watch the full episode...

Here's what we'll discuss in the video:

1. What Kind of Drugs Are They?: We'll define Mounjaro and Wegovy, highlighting their pharmaceutical properties and what makes them unique.

2. How Do They Work?: We'll discuss the mechanisms of action for these drugs and how they contribute to weight loss.

3. Effectiveness and Clinical Indications: We'll delve into the clinical trials and research data regarding how well these drugs work, who should use them, and what conditions they treat.

4. Side Effects and Risks: We'll explore the possible side effects of these drugs, including the rare but serious complication known as "stomach paralysis."

5. Cost of Drugs: We'll cover the market price of these drugs, helping you understand the financial aspect of these treatments.

LINKS:

• Journal Article About Mounjaro
• Journal Article About Wegovy

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So let's talk about banned US foods...

Have you ever seen yourself craving your favorite food when traveling in a different country, but the moment you go to their grocery store, it's nowhere to be found, most likely because it's banned?

Thinking about this, it's somewhat wild that here in this country, we have foods that we eat on a daily basis, but if you travel abroad, they'd be like, "Do not bring that food over here." Even I, when I heard about it, was shocked, but then realizations and epiphanies kicked in.

What other foods are banned in other parts of the world that here in the United States, I'm allowed to eat freely? What has been done to those foods that made them banned in those countries?

So in today's episode, we'll talk about some of your favorite foods that you cannot get once you cross the waters, and why that's the case in other parts of the world.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Find out what foods/drinks are allowed here in the United States but are banned in other parts of the world
• Recognize the importance of understanding why these foods/drinks are banned in those countries; and
• Be able to see things not from the perspective of "these foods/drinks are bad" but more from "what has been added to those foods/drinks that have it banned"

"Anytime I mention a food, I don't want you to think like, 'Oh no, the food is bad.' I want you to think like, 'Alright, what are they adding to the food that's making it hit the naughty list?"– Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"It's wild to think about it. It's wild to think that here in this country, we have foods that we eat on a daily basis…but if you travel abroad, they'd be like, 'Do not bring that food over here.' I was shocked and surprised, too." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"It's one thing to understand, like yeah, it's banned, you cannot get it here, but the why makes it so much more important." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"I don't want you to take this video and say, 'Hey, I'm going to never eat these foods again.' I don't want you to do that. But I do want you to kind of just think about, 'Hey, let's just think about what we're eating and taking in on a daily basis.'" – Dr. Berry Pierre

"I want you to understand that in different parts of the world, there are certain things that will fly that won't fly in different parts of the world." – Dr. Berry Pierre

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LINKS:

• Understanding Diabetes
• Diabetes Topics with Dr. Pierre

In this week's episode of the Real Physician Reacts series, we're delving into the world of diabetes and its complications. As a widespread and often misunderstood condition, understanding diabetes is critical to managing health effectively.

Click here to watch the full episode...

Here's what we'll discuss in the video:

• What is Diabetes?: We'll define diabetes, explore its types, and discuss how it affects the body.
• Common Complications Associated with Diabetes: From heart disease to kidney damage, we'll discuss the various health problems that often accompany diabetes.
• Facts Associated with Diabetes: We'll share some surprising and important facts about diabetes to provide a broader understanding of the condition.

So let's talk about levering the power of public health...

How important are civic engagement and politics in elevating the power and practice of public health?

It's still sad how it took us a pandemic for people to recognize that we really should be thinking about the importance of public health. That COVID-19 pandemic—that is what happens when we don't have a great structure, especially on a national level.

We should be taking action hand-in-hand, for as today's guest said, public health is ingrained in all that we do in life. Unfortunately, here we are, forgetting its importance as soon as things got "well" with us.

But we don't want that to go on, that's why I invited Leela Ramachandran. She is a Research Associate for the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and an Elected School Committee Member at Acton Boxborough Regional School District. Through experiences in research and projects, she realized her passion for dismantling systems of oppression, centering historically marginalized populations, and decolonizing the field of public health.

Join us as we learn how we can take part in this initiative and hopefully create a better version of both the world and ourselves.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Recognize how important the role of civic engagement and politics are in relation to public health;
• Understand the power of your network/s in helping activate people's eagerness to take action for a better world; and
• Gain insights from Leela's experiences and tips on how you can take part in putting the power of public health & advocacy into mainstream

"It's important to find the ways that you can contribute. There are plenty of ways to do things; you just have to want to do it and find the thing that works for you."– Leela Ramachandran

Notable Quotes:

"I don't think I'd be the physician that I am today without my public health degree." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"All this is public health, and that's why I love public health so much. It's so ingrained in every profession; everything that we do in our lives is somehow related to public health… I just think public health is one of the most important things that you could do. And it's not just like a job; for me, it's perspective." – Leela Ramachandran

"We're important when we matter when it's a national crisis—international, actually—and then all of a sudden, it's kind of forgotten about even though the public health duties do not end." – Leela Ramachandran

"In this beautiful, capitalist country that we live in, money talks and money does things, and money allows you and affords you the opportunity to implement really good public health programs; lack thereof can be detrimental. And so, oftentimes, public health depends on policy, funding, our work." – Leela Ramachandran

"I am not the world's best expert at international policies and politics, but other people are… I think it's just doing what you can in circles of influence. I can't get the whole town to care, but if I can get five of my friends to care like each one teaches one, then they can go get their friends to come on. It's really about who's in your network, who can you pull into this, and who they're affecting." – Leela Ramachandran

"In a world that really overwhelms you, you have to pick something and just go for it. And if not's working, that's fine; it doesn't have to be perfect on the first run." – Leela Ramachandran

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Links/Resources

• Leela's Email: [email protected]
• Leela's TikTok

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• Why High Blood Pressure is a "Silent Killer"
• Hypertension Infographic

In this week's episode of the Real Physician Reacts series, we're focusing on a critical health topic: Hypertension, often referred to as the "silent killer." As a physician, I'll be breaking down this serious condition to help you understand why it's so crucial to keep it under control.

Click here to watch the full episode...

Here's what we'll discuss in today's video:

• Signs & Symptoms of High Blood Pressure: We'll review the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure, including why it's often referred to as the "silent killer."
• Causes of Hypertension: We'll discuss the typical causes of high blood pressure, shedding light on risk factors and preventative measures.
• Treatment Options: From traditional medications to lifestyle changes, we'll delve into the various ways hypertension can be managed.
• Nutritional Supplements: We'll explore how certain nutritional supplements may play a role in controlling high blood pressure.

So let's talk about Dr. Pierre...

If we would go back to 2007 and you'd asked me if I'd be a YouTuber, I would've thought that being a content creator was such a crazy idea. Looking back, I wasn't even aware of what a podcast is, more so than being on YouTube.

But then medical school came, and I realized how powerful social media could be, especially in the healthcare space.

And so, for years now, I've been putting all these contents online, for you to access, listen to, and learn from.

On a long car ride, I then realized, I'm actually a content creator and a physician in one. Join me as we go through the history of how this all started, and how I came to that realization after quite some time.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Learn how I got to the realization that yes, I am a physician, but also yes, I am a content creator/YouTuber
• Understand why I'm taking this YouTube work seriously, especially as I talk about the healthcare space
• Find out what's in store for you, our YouTube family, as we welcome the second half of the year

"This is what I can promise you, my YouTube family. I am going to put as much effort as I did in our 300+ podcast episodes as we do with the YouTube channel."– Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"It took me a long car ride for me to acknowledge this is where I'm at in the point of my life, where I'm officially a YouTuber and I have to acknowledge it and I have to kind of acquiesce to the YouTube ways, especially in my life as a content creator."– Dr. Berry Pierre

"I realized very quickly that I can't just be talking to one person. Like, I can't tell this person in front of me, 'Hey, your blood pressure is an issue; your diabetes is an issue; your cholesterol is an issue,' because they may understand it, but what about the 10 other people and their family members who may not understand?" – Dr. Berry Pierre

"If I'm going to be what they call a YouTuber, I got to record the episodes first to put it for the audio later." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"You know what? Mr. Beast is right. If Mr. Beast says I need to take this YouTube stuff seriously, guess what? We are going to take this YouTube stuff seriously." – Dr. Berry Pierre

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• Deion Sanders Undergoes Surgery, Misses Colorado Football Practice

In this week's episode of the Real Physician Reacts series, we're taking a deep dive into Deion Sanders' health condition and its implications. Sanders, the head coach of the Colorado football team, had to undergo emergency surgery for blood clots to avoid amputation. We will talk about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs) conditions that might have a significant impact on both his personal health and his professional commitments.

Click here to watch the full episode...

Our discussion will revolve around the following points:

• Understanding DVT and PE: We'll provide a brief overview of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, explaining their causes, symptoms, and usual treatment options.
• Sanders' health condition: We'll discuss Sanders' specific case, his surgery, and his potential recovery timeline.
• The complications of DVT and PE: We'll explore the possible complications of these conditions, including how they can impact a person's daily life and professional activities.
• Insights into recovery and management: Lastly, we'll discuss what recovery and management might look like for Sanders and other individuals with these conditions.

So let's talk about the ten men's health issues...

June has come to an end, and it holds great significance, especially for someone like me, as it is Men's Health Month. As we look back, we dedicated four weeks to addressing important issues and discovering ways to prioritize self-care so we can live a longer and better life with our loved ones.

But if you cannot get enough of our men's health series, worry no more, for here's a special episode as we welcome July!

Be sure to tune in as I present what I think are the top 10 by-laws of men's health.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Find out which among the long list of illnesses and diseases should be men's top 10 concern when it comes to their health
• Recognize the importance and power of early prevention and detection in relation to taking care of one's health
• Understand how taking care of ourselves first helps us become our best selves for others

"It is when we're old that all of our young ways catch up to us. So instead of waiting for us to get old and have our young decisions catch up to us, let's take care of them when they're young so we don't have to deal with them when we're old [and] so we don't have to carry an oxygen tank around everywhere we go."– Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"First of all, [heart disease], it is a no.1 killer in general, but specifically for us, [men], it takes us out at a rate that we need to be mindful of it when we're young, when we're old, for ourselves, our family members."– Dr. Berry Pierre

"If you could just stop one bad habit that we know have beneficial results to you living longer, living better, it's going to be the cigarette smoking. When it comes to cancer, there's not a cancer that cigarette smoking doesn't increase your risk of getting; let's think about that" – Dr. Berry Pierre

"We know that yes, the c-word is a bad word; cancer is a bad word. But if we can catch it early enough, our prognosis [and] our treatment improves dramatically." – Dr. Berry Pierre

"When it comes to health and healthcare, you have to be greedy. When it comes to just living life, you got to take care of yourself first before you worry about taking care of others. Because if you can't take care of yourself, then the others are not going to be able to take care of you." – Dr. Berry Pierre

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• Supreme Court strikes down college affirmative action programs

In this week's episode of the Real Physician Reacts series we are diving deep into the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in college admissions, and its potential implications on healthcare. The ruling, which declared affirmative action admission policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina unconstitutional, might have a profound impact on the future of diversity in healthcare professions.

In our discussion, we will be examining the possible consequences of this landmark decision and its ripple effects on the healthcare sector.

Click here to watch the full episode...

Several discussion points today;

• Decreased diversity in healthcare professions: How might this ruling affect the representation of minorities in healthcare professions, and why does it matter?
• Increased health disparities: Why might the elimination of affirmative action in medical school admissions lead to worsening health disparities?
• Less representation in medical research and clinical trials: How could this ruling potentially affect the inclusivity of diverse participant groups in clinical trials?
• Less culturally competent care: What is culturally competent care, and why is a diverse healthcare workforce crucial in providing it?