True Health Live

We are rounding up our series on Preventive medicine with Prostate exams as cancer screenings. It is really important to cover an aspect of men’s health as a topic all on its own. Health Screenings involving the prostate are crucial for men aged 40+ because the risks go up as you grow older.

What is the prostate? The prostate is a walnut sized gland responsible for the production of semen which transports sperm. Some of the first signs of prostate problems are usually issue with urination. Screening for Cancer with prostate exams can be done a number of ways – during this episode we focus on PSA blood tests and the rectal exam.

Associate Professor of Urology at New York/Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Dr. Joseph P. Alukal, joins us and gives expert commentary and advice on this specific area of men’s health. He takes us through the many reasons why prostate cancer can manifest and how it is diagnosed and treated. We also have some stories shared from our audience as well as our hosts.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision. Contact us today to share your stories!

The Mammogram is the second of the various examples of health screenings that we highlight for our Preventative Medicine Series.

Getting a mammogram is an important aspect to women’s health. This particular screening is key to finding out about the health of your breasts. Routine and/or preventive screenings are recommended for women ages 40 and over. However, a known family history of breast cancer is good reason for early screening.

Both Me (Deidre) and Anushka share our personal mammogram stories that demonstrate examples of routine and diagnostic procedures. We cover both the funny and hilarious experience to the anxiety and unexpected. I definitely had some wrong ideas of what to expect during a mammogram. The one accurate thing is the discomfort – it is very uncomfortable, but a little discomfort to make sure your boobies are healthy or early detection is well worth it.

If you haven’t had a mammogram, maybe our share will help you and if you have, maybe you can relate. Do you want to share your story and experience? Contact us and tells us about what’s happening with you.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

The Colonoscopy is the first of the various examples of health screenings that we highlight for our Preventative Medicine Series. We cover the Who, What, Why, and When of the colonoscopy.

What: A 20-30 min exam that includes light sedation (anesthesia). The physician is able to view the bowels using a long flexible fiber optic camera to see inside the colon.

Why: The camera allows the doctor to check inside of the bowel for any abnormalities (i.e., polyps, bleeding, etc).

Who: Individuals 45 years of age or older are encouraged to begin annual colonoscopy screenings. Colonoscopies are also recommended for individuals who have a family history or are at risk for colorectal cancer.

We also learn that colonoscopies are becoming more common among younger Black Americans. Overall, Black people are 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from the disease.

Also, we have our first storytime from a listener, Ms. V, who gives a recount of her 2 experiences getting a colonoscopy.

Do you want to share your story and experience? Contact us and tells us about what’s happening with you.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

What is Preventive Medicine? It is generally a form of treatment or action designed to stop something undesirable such disease or ill health from occurring. Health screenings are perfect examples, and they are tests that check for disease and determine level of health before signs and symptoms occur.

We begin our series on preventive medicine and hone in zero in on the specific health screenings that we should be looking out for as we age.

Do you want to share your story and experience? Contact us and tells us about what’s happening with you.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

Mandates, war, natural disasters, fires and floods. We take a quick dive into what’s happening now with the world. How are you holding up in this climate? Are you fed up? Overwhelmed? It all affects our health and those around us.

Do you want to share your story and experience? Contact us and tells us about what’s happening with you.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

What does advocacy in maternal health look like? We are chatting about knowing how to speak up in the exam room and delivery room all the way to the room at City Hall or on the Hill. We are talking about being proactive and planning pregnancy as a way to self advocacy – it’s a lot yall!

Dr. Kadesha Nicholas, Founder of Let’s Talk Health, Inc. and commentator on all things Black Health is our guest host for this segment. Connect w/ Dr. Nicholas: @dr.kadesha, @lets.talk.health

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

Reproductive Health Disparity Fact: Fibroids occur in up to 80% of women of childbearing age. However, Black/African American women are more likely to develop them.

What are fibroids – Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors of muscle tissue in the uterus. They are also called myomas or leiomyomas, and are usually found in or around the body of the uterus. Fibroids can form in the outer wall of the uterus, in the layers of the uterine wall, or protrude into the womb (uterine cavity).

What is meant by “access to care” and why is it important? Access to care is the “timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes.” Consequently, when adequate access is not present, health disparities will persist. Moreover, health equity will always be just out of reach.

In this latest episode of True Health Live we go over the disproportionate rate at which Black women experience fibroids, and some reasons why. For example, access to care (or lack thereof) can negatively impact woman with fibroids. Many times vulnerable and under-served communities are those who experience access to care issues. Which in turn, contributes to disparities in reproductive health.

Listen to the episode right here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Your Health. Your Decision.

What are postpartum experiences? What do you think when you hear the word postpartum? Like most folk, you probably think “postpartum depression (PPD)”, right? To clarify, postpartum is everything that happens after (or “post”) birth and postpartum depression (diagnosed in 1 in 7 mothers) is only one of those experiences that occur within the postpartum period. Not all moms experience PPD as shared by co-hosts Anushka and Precious.

On episode 17 of THL, we chat about some of the other experiences like lactation, “the snap back”, returning menses, time management, self care and help & healing. “If I were by myself, I don’t know what I would have done…” shares Anushka. “Those simple things meant a lot.”

For example, when we discussed lactation and breastfeeding, we are reminded by Precious that “being able to get in the shower and soak in the tub is part of allowing the body to relax so you can help support the production of milk – but you have to make that time.”

When it comes to support, how are we thinking about support and what it should look like? Should we lean on our husbands and mates for support or is a community of women more helpful?

Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform to find out what else was discussed. Your Health. Your Decision.

Birthing support is crucial for new mothers. During episode 16, guest co-host Kashia Knight, founder of Honest Doula, shares her experience and expertise. But first…

WHAT IS A DOULA

The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “a woman who serves.” Today, “doula” refers to a professional trained to provide emotional, physical and educational support to women throughout their pregnancy, birth and the early postpartum period.

Doulas have been around for centuries, and in recent years are becoming increasingly popular as people move toward more natural and hoslistic lifestyles. More and more women are choosing Doulas to provide birthing support throughout their pregnancy and in the delivery room.

There are many women who are unaware of their options when they begin their pregnancy journey. We cover varying points of view when it comes to rights of the mother to allopathic vs homeopathic medicine and practices.

“I’ve seen lately and increase of scheduled C-sections as early as 36 weeks, I’ve seen pushing away from vaginal births, pushing to induce labor unnecessarily…” as Kashia recalls.

The True Health Live podcast is available on this website and on your favorite podcast platforms. You can also catch the live episodes on YouTube. Your Health. Your Decision.

Maternal health is am important topic to highlight when it comes to working moms. This summer, True Health Live podcasts will turn attention to the ins and outs and everything surrounding Maternity. We discuss all the bits about maternity leave and what it is like to go back to work. Our mommy co-hosts also share their experiences that help to highlight the differences between having children and finding balance.