Older patients suffering from cognitive decline may have trouble conveying physical and mental health information to their doctor. So, they bring a friend or family member to help them out and make sure the information they're sharing is correct. But sometimes there is a disconnect between what patients and proxies report leaving doctors confused. In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Kurt Kroenke, scientists at the Regenstrief Institute who tells me there are certain circumstances when proxies may overestimate or underestimate the symptoms of the patients they are responsible for.

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The nation's tampon shortage is causing some women to ration their supply. But keeping a tampon in for too long comes with serious consequences. In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Cameual Wright, OB-GYN and vice president, market chief medical officer at CareSource who says even though times are difficult, it is critical to use tampons exactly as instructed. We also discuss alternative methods of protection available on the market. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines for mothers who breastfeed for the first time in over a decade. The group still recommends breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a baby’s life. It now also supports continued breastfeeding infants to two years or older. In this week’s episode I spoke with Dr. Cameual Wright, OB-GYN and Vice President, market chief medical officer at CareSource to get her reaction about the new guidelines. 

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The monkeypox outbreak is sparking global concern. A total of 2,500 cases have been confirmed to date, two of which have been identified in Indiana.

However, experts say the virus has been here for some time hiding under the radar with many cases going undetected. It’s only now that we are taking notice.

In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Amy Beth Kressel, infectious disease specialist at Eskenazi Health, who warns we have to get ahead of monkeypox before the outbreak amplifies, spreads, and turns into an epidemic.

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Disease suppressed during the pandemic are re-emerging and behaving in really strange ways. There's a rise in RSV, adenovirus, monkeypox and hepatitis. This has scientists scratching their heads. In this week's episode I speak with Dr. Amy Beth Kressel, infectious disease specialist at Eskenazi Health, about what's behind this phenomenon.

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The CDC reports people who've rolled up their sleeves for an extra layer of protection appear to be testing positive for COVID at a higher rate compared to people who've only gotten their full dose series. Data shows 119 out of every 100,000 boosted individuals have tested positive as of the week of April 23rd. This is compared to just 56 out of 100,000 people who tested positive who are vaccinated, but do not have a booster. In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Christopher Doehring, vice president of medical affairs at Franciscan Health, who tells me what factors might be contributing to these numbers.

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When the pandemic hit, women across the country were forced to miss their annual mammography for fear of being infected with the coronavirus. Now, the world has opened In this week’s episode, I speak with Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter and breast cancer survivor, Sheryl Crow, along with Dr. Arlene Richardson, a nationally-recognized radiologist, about why it’s time to get back out there and screened.

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Taking antidepressants during pregnancy has been a concern for many expectant mothers. However, a growing body of research points to evidence that may not be the case. In this episode of Medical Minutes, I speak with Kelsey Wiggs, PhD candidate at IU Bloomington who is an expert in this area of research. 

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The first case of bird-to-human transmission of the avian influenza has been identified, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Doctors say a 40-year-old Colorado man tested positive for the virus. However, a group of experts are skeptical as to whether the case was a true bird-to-human transmission. In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Shaun Grannis, vice president of data and analytics at the Regenstrief Institute, for an explanation.

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The FDA is slated to ban menthol in cigarettes. A new study projects over 1 million Americans will quit smoking as a result. A majority will be Black. In this week’s episode I speak Dr. Cynthia Meneghini, physician and smoking cessation specialist at Community Health Network. She tells me about the major public health impact the menthol ban could have considering smoking is a major risk factor for almost every chronic illness in Black Americans.

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