Texas Tech Health Check

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You don't need garlic or sunlight to protect yourself against vampires -- energy vampires -- that seem to leave some people exhausted and overwhelmed. David Pfaff, Ph.D., clinical mental health therapist with the School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, is our expert for this episode. He shares with us how we can identify and set boundaries with these relationships, practice mindfulness techniques to manage emotional reactions and treat ourselves with compassion in order to slay those energy draining situations. He also gives us tips on how we can be a bit more self-aware and avoid draining other people's energy.

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Vaping, initially intended as a smoking cessation tool, has evolved into a harmful trend, especially among young people. Tushi Singh, M.D., and Ricardo Franco, M.D., pulmonologists at Texas Tech Physicians, talk to us about the history of vaping and why it's harmful to our health, and stress seeking professional help for smoking cessation. 

Dr. Singh's previous episode: "When Breathing Gets Hard: Understanding COPD"

Sara Tello, APRN, on smoking cessation: "The Great Escape: Breaking Free from Nicotine Addiction"

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Breast cancer in males is a rare cut clinically significant disease. Males have many of the same risk factors as females, but delay in seeking health care puts them at greater risk. Richard Pullen, Ed.D., MSN, director of the R.N. to BSN program in the School of Nursing, explains why males might put off reporting a lump in their breast or even checking for lumps. Dr. Pullen tells us what to look for, how we can help reduce the social stigma and instead support those who are at risk for developing breast cancer.  One of the ways to start is by having conversations about awareness, so share this episode with your friends and family.

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Loose or sagging skin creating folds on the upper eyelid, excess skin and wrinkles around the lower eyelid, drooping lower eyelids -- all these and others can at some point impair your vision. Or perhaps you feel that the skin around your eyes could use a refresh. Coby Ray, M.D., an oculoplastic surgeon at Texas Tech Physicians, is our expert for this episode. Dr. Ray explains that sometimes blepharplasty is sometimes medically necessary to prevent vision impairment caused by droopy eyelids. He goes over what's involved with the surgery and recovery and his recommendations to help prevent droopy eyelids. 

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Lynn Jennings, Ph.D., has ben treating child sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect for over 20 years. She is the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program assistant program director/instructor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health. Dr. Jennings emphasizes the need for early intervention and outlines the long-term consequences of abuse and the role of friends, family, and mandated reporters in identifying and reporting cases. 

Help us raise awareness about National Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing this podcast with your community.

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Natural and artificial food dyes are ubiquitous, but some people try to avoid consuming food or beverages of a certain color for different reasons. James Tarbox, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians allergist, explains that food dyes are added to food for aesthetic purposes and are generally safe. They can cause rare allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, shortness of breath and low blood pressure. To avoid allergic reactions, Dr. Tarbox recommends consuming fresh, unprocessed foods, reading labels carefully and making meals at home.

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If you want a quick boost to your mood,  just clearing or cleaning a small space will make you feel better. Logan Winkelman, Ph.D., is our guest expert and explains why tidying up can be therapeutic. Dr. Winkelman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health and Program Director for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program within the School of Health Professions at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Winkelman gives us tips on how to start and stick to a routine that will help keep messes from becoming overwhelming, and she reminds us that clear communication about what cleanliness means to us is important when you share a space with others.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, referred to as COPD, is a progressive disease which can, over time, limit your ability to do basic activities such as walking, cooking or taking care of yourself. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is two times more common in rural areas than it is in large cities. Tushi Singh, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians pulmonologist, is our guest for this episode. Dr. Singh explains to us what causes COPD, what treatments are available and what we can do to protect ourselves from developing COPD. 

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March is National Kidney Month. Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes and extra water out of our blood and make urine. Damage to your kidneys means they can’t filter blood the way it should, which could lead to kidney disease. Our guest for this episode is Leo Yamaguchi, M.D., associate program director and vice chief of clinical services for the TTUHSC School of Medicine's Internal Medicine Division of Nephrology. Dr. Yamaguchi explains how our kidneys work, some of the causes of kidney disease, how we can keep our kidneys safe and why we might want to consider becoming an organ donor. 

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Parental vigilance is the best way to keep children safe from burns, a common injury for kids. Possible burns are not limited to injuries from fireplaces, camp fires or fireworks. Risks include chemicals, electric cords, hot foods and hot water from the tap. Allan Pang, M.D., is a Texas Tech Physicians surgeon who specializes in burn, wound, trauma and critical care, and has been on this podcast before with great advice. He answers our questions about what we can do to prevent children from getting burns and what to do in case a child sustains a burn.