Texas Tech Health Check

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Acne can be a problem for us, including adults. What should you do if you get a pimple or an acne flare-up? Michelle Tarbox, M.D., is a dermatologist at Texas Tech Physicians and an associate professor at TTUHSC. Dr. Tarbox explains how acne forms, why we get it, how to treat it and what to do if we get a pimple right before an important event.

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Be prepared before hitting the trails and know what to do in case of an emergency or how to avoid finding yourself in an emergency situation. Brian Kendall, M.D., emergency medicine, is a clinical assistant professor and clerkship director at TTUHSC. He shares with us what he packs in his first aid kit, how to avoid the most common injury and what to do in case of an emergency. 

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More than half of the world population works and we spend a significant amount of our lives at our jobs. How can we manage stress at work so that it doesn’t affect our home life and our physical health? Logan Winkelman, Ph.D., is this episode’s guest. She has advice and tips on how to handle the stress that comes along with starting or changing careers, working with people who are different from us and how to maintain a good life/work balance. Dr. Winkelman is an assistant professor and program director of the clinical mental health counseling in the department of clinical counseling and mental health.

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It's 'Save Your Vision' month and we'd like to bring awareness to the effects of diabetes on vision, including blindness if left untreated. Kelly Mitchell, M.D., is our guest today. He is a Texas Tech Physicians ophthalmologist and professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Dr. Mitchell explains why people with diabetes are at risk for diabetic eye diseases, what those diseases are, symptoms, treatments and tells us why if you have been diagnosed with diabetes to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist. 

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There are some services we’ve come to expect to stay with us since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic—curbside pickup, groceries delivered to our door, remote working and virtual office visits or telemedicine. Our guest for this episode is Ariel Santos, M.D., trauma and acute care surgeon, associate professor and director of telemedicine for the School of Medicine. Dr. Santos explains the differences between telehealth and telemedicine, how he and other physicians use telemedicine, what the benefits are to using telemedicine and reveals which patients are most open to using virtual visits. 

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It’s nearly that time for spring allergies but some of us have been dealing with allergies year-round. What are our options for relief? James Tarbox, M.D., associate professor in the division of allergy and immunology in the TTUHSC School of Medicine, explains why some of us get respiratory allergies, why we shouldn’t expect relief after a heavy rainfall and he also answers our questions about valley fever. 

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According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, in the United States nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. During one year, this comes out to more than 10 million women and men. How does this relate to health care and what can you do if you’re in that situation or have a loved one in an abusive relationship? Poorvanshi Alag, M.D., is an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and an addiction psychiatrist. She talks to us about the link between an abusive relationship and addiction, the signs of an abusive relationship and what we can do to help victims of abuse.

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Loving yourself and setting boundaries is important for your mental health and well-being. If you struggle with that, Alan Korinek, Ph.D., has helpful advice. Dr. Korinek is the managing director for the TTUHSC Employee Assistance Program and program of assistance for TTUHSC students. He reminds us consistency is important when it comes to setting boundaries.

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It's always a good time to think about your heart health, even if you're young and active. This episode's guest is Scott Shurmur, M.D., Texas Tech physicians, cardiologist and Division Chief of Cardiology at TTUHSC. Dr. Shurmur talks to us about heart disease, what effect certain drugs can have on the heart, why younger people could be at risk for heart disease and why knowing your family history of heart disease is important.

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Note: this episode was originally published Dec. 7, 2021, but the advice is still valid.

How does the winter weather affect our skin and hair? To explain what happens when our skin and hair become dry is Michelle Tarbox, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians dermatologist. She talks to us about what to use to keep our skin and hair hydrated, why we should pay special attention to young and old skin and tips for keeping our skin healthy when we travel.