The Icarus Balance: Health Literacy: Recent Episodes
Tatsuya Shiihara and Roger Yu
The Icarus Balance is an idea that was formulated in early 2021, with the aim of improving heath literacy. We: Roger (USA) and Tats (Australia), aim to interview relevant specialists and professionals to explore the intricate and complex field of health and answer the questions one who is not involved in these fields might have.
Why "The Icarus Balance"?
As with Daedalus' warnings to Icarus against hubris (flying too high), we recognize that we don't have all the answers. Yet, we also hold paramount his warnings against complacency (flying too low) and with respect to this we try to stay grounded as we explore some of the most complex, well-studied topics in the world with a view in answering: How do we improve our health?
Thanks for checking us out! We hope you take away at least a minute of valuable information.
Feel free to give us ideas or keep us accountable at: theicarusbalance@gmail.com
Credits: Intro Music: "Clap Along" by Jason Shaw at audionautix.com
Join us as we start off 2024 with a quick talk about hyperthyroidism, or more specifically Graves disease! The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can mimic other diseases so it's important to be aware that this disease exists.
Timestamps:
2:30 - Symptoms and complications
6:20 - How do hormones work?
8:40 - How does autoimmunity cause Graves disease?
10:30 - Risk factors
12:15 - Treatment
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Melanoma is a skin cancer that affects people worldwide, developing from melanocytes, or the cells which produce pigment in our skin. In this episode, we try to give a broad overview of this massive topic.
Timestamps:
2:40 - Epidemiology
4:00 - Types and risk factors
7:28 - Screening
8:40 - A simple approach to pigmented lesions
10:00 - Further risk factors
11:48 - Diagnosis
12:23 - Pathophysiology
14:00 - More about biopsies and excisions
15:10 - Treatments
17:12 - Sunscreen use
19:25 - Conclusions
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Antidepressants are some of the most commonly prescribed medications globally, with almost 1 in 5 people on antidepressants in certain countries. These medications are used to treat a wide variety of mental health disorders, so we decided to focus on the medications themselves and their side effects instead of the specific diagnoses. One of the most common class of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Timestamps:
6:10 - Statistics
8:30 - What are neurotransmitters?
13:00 - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
16:45 - Black box warning (increased risk of suicide)
21:45 - Importance of therapy
23:30 - Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
26:00 - Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
27:00 - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOi's)
27:45 - Atypical antidepressants (bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone)
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Since we just talked about Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, we thought it would be fitting to talk about Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Join us as we touch upon the cause (spoiler: autoimmune), treatment (spoiler: insulin), and interesting topics such as ketosis.
Timestamps:
2:45 - Cause
6:15 - Ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis
10:30 - Treatment (types of insulin regimen)
15:30 - Hypoglycemia
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common conditions in the world. It's also often one that is not understood very well by many people - so we thought we'd do an episode chatting about it!
Timestamps:
3:30 - Statistics
5:45 - Causes
8:30 - Diagnosis and screenings
12:15 - Symptoms
17:15 - Treatment
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Nocturnal enuresis (or bedwetting) is a condition that affects primarily young children and often resolves as you grow older. Although often considered shameful or embarrassing, this condition is very common. In this episode, we talk about the causes and treatments of bedwetting.
Timestamps:
5:00 - Statistics
6:15 - Causes
8:15 - Lifestyle changes
10:00 - When to treat
16:15 - Medications
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
It's time to talk about iron deficiency anemia, which affects 1 in 8 people around the world. Join us in thinking through the common symptoms, causes, and treatments in this bite-sized episode.
Timestamps:
3:45 - Stats
4:30 - Causes
6:30 - Why is iron important?
7:50 - Back to causes
14:30 - Symptoms
17:45 - Treatments
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
In this episode, we discuss sleep hygiene, which are behavioral modifications that improve the quality of your sleep. Whether you're interested in knowing what to avoid in the evening or how sleep specialists often treat poor sleep, this episode is full of practical tips that you can apply every day.
Timestamps:
3:30 - Good sleep hygiene practices
10:40 - Sleep restriction method
14:25 - Pilot sleeping method
16:45 - Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i)
18:45 - Medications
20:30 - Common disorders
Sleep Apps:
Calm
Headspace
White Noise
CBT-i Coach
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Are you interested in learning about one of the most common surgeries in the world? In this episode, we chat about appendicitis and its cause, symptoms, and treatments.
Timestamp:
4:00 and 6:45 - Statistics
4:30 - Cause
8:15 - Symptoms
13:45 - Treatment
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Welcome back to the second episode of the new season of The Icarus Balance! We've recently changed gears towards casual conversations about important disorders and topics in medicine. In this episode we discuss the different types of strokes, important warning signs, and their treatment.
Timestamps:
6:45 - Definitions
8:15 - Quick stats
10:00 - Symptoms
17:00 - Causes
20:20 - Risk factors
24:15 - Treatments
American Stroke Association - https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Welcome back to the 2nd season of The Icarus Balance! Things have been very busy for both of us the past year and a half, but we are excited to resume posting episodes with a new twist. We'll continue to discuss important topics in medicine, but this time it will be us two having casual and spontaneous conversations so that these episodes will be easier to digest.
In this episode, join us in learning about coronary heart disease, which ranges from stable angina (chest pain) all the way to the dreaded myocardial infarction (heart attack)!
Timestamps:
3:50 - Statistics
9:15 - Causes and symptoms
17:20 - Risk factors
20:15 - Diagnostics
27:00 - Treatments
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
In this episode, we interview Dr. Miwa Yasui (PhD), Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Dr. Yasui is an expert in the effects of culture on the ways people think about mental health and use mental health services.
We discuss mental health as a general topic, disorders, stigma, resources, and the effects of the pandemic. For anyone out there looking for more awareness of mental health in your life or others, this episode is for you!
Here are some books we recommend about mental health!
An Unquiet Mind - Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed - Lori Gottlieb
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Proactive Healthcare: COVID19 Vaccines with Dr. Kirsty Short
In this episode, we interview Dr. Kirsty Short (PhD) from the University of Queensland (Australia). Dr. Short is a renowned Virologist and Senior Lecturer, specialising in coronavirus and influenza viruses.
We discuss the ongoing pandemic, the available vaccines and how they perform, what the aims of the vaccine are, and important topics including waning immunity, Long COVID Syndrome, vaccine mandates, effects of the vaccine on our bodies - weakening immune system, older peoples and infertility. We also explore just how much research there is and if we can trust it.
To summarise, this podcast is appropriate if you're on the fence about getting the vaccine, and want to hear from an evidence-based point of view from a specialist in the field.
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
High Impact Diseases: Asthma... (NB: Apologies for the late upload!)
In this episode, we interview Professor Peter Sly from the University of Queensland (Australia):
- Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Children's Health and Environment
- NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow
- Paediatric Respiratory Physician
- Advisor to the World Health Organisation Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Disease
- Current member (Advisory Board/Committee) WHO network of Collaborating Centres in Children's Environmental Health; Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study, Canada; the Infant Lung Health Study, Paarl, South Africa; and A SHARED Future: Achieving Strength, Health, and Autonomy, through Renewable Energy Development for the Future
We talk about one of the most prevalent diseases in the world: Asthma. We discuss the classical 'wheeze', the different types of asthma, potential causes, exacerbators and how we treat or control the disease; along with some common concerns and misconceptions. Long story short, asthma is a significant disease that can be managed well if diagnosed early. Definitely give this episode a listen if you want to learn all about Asthma as we dive deep into the topic.
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Proactive Healthcare: Finding High Value Care and the US Healthcare System...
In this episode, we interview Dr. Gregory Ruhnke, Physician (Hospitalist), Professor and Researcher at the University of Chicago (US). We talk about the American Healthcare System, disparities in usage and outcomes, some comparisons to other countries, factors relating to overutilisation, The Choosing Wisely Campaign, the US Public Health Insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare).
The Choosing Wisely Campaign
Australia: https://www.choosingwisely.org.au/
USA: https://www.choosingwisely.org/
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
Proactive Healthcare: Vaccines...
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Cosby Stone, an Allergy and Immunology Specialist, Physician-Scientist based at Vanderbilt University (USA). We aim to ask those questions that are the most common, diving into a conversation about the intricacies of the world of vaccines: what they aim to achieve, the types of vaccines and how they work, side effects that can be expected, the debunked associations to autism, the concept of herd immunity and the coronavirus vaccines.
Intro and Outro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com
In this episode, we aim to detail who we are, what we hope to achieve, what the format of the episodes are and some examples of topics.
Intro Music: 'Clap Along' by Jason Shaw - audionautix.com