Health 360 with Dr. G: Recent Episodes
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Health 360 with Dr. G episodes feature conversations with health experts that aims to inform and inspire a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Mark Gomez, a board-certified internal medicine physician with Edward-Elmhurst Health, and his guests take the complex topics and break them down into simpler terms. From physical health to mental health, Dr. G digs into every angle to explain tough topics and inspire healthier living.
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Today’s teens are just as stressed as their parents. Stress in teens can lead to various health issues and no matter the circumstances, stress needs to be taken seriously so it can be handled in a healthy way.
Teens can get stressed by a number of things, including activities they’re excited about. It can be anything from academics or their part-time job to relationships and even beloved extracurricular activities.
Looking for changes in their behavior and listening to their concerns can help tip off parents to a higher stress level. Believe it or not, teens tend to trust their parents and value their relationship and support.
Is there a way to tell when a teen is overwhelmed by stress? What should parents ask teens and when should they be concerned?
Get detailed information and tips in Episode 77, where Dr. G and his guest, Merigan Neben, examine ways parents can identify stress in teens and talk about practical strategies to help them manage it.
Guest * Merigan Neben – Assistant principal of student services, Naperville Central High School.
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“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” -- Hippocrates
Food is more than fuel – it plays an integral role in our lives, including social, emotional and spiritual components.
Most people know nutrition is important for good health and well-being. The difficulty lies in changing well-worn habits that include fast, easy, processed, unhealthy food choices.
Nutrition may seem complicated, but it’s not. The hard part is breaking free of unhealthy habits. The standard American diet is filled with processed food, refined grains, sugar, carbs and sodium, which promote an inflammatory state. (We know it’s bad for us, but it’s so easy, fast and tasty, right?).
So, how do we stick with a healthier everyday diet?
Get detailed information and tips in Episode 76, where Dr. G and his guest, Colin Zhu, DO, talk about how to build a balanced diet plan that can help protect you from disease and promote a healthier state of being.
Guest * Colin Zhu, DO, DipABLM, Chef – Double board-certified family practice, osteopathic manipulative treatment and lifestyle medicine physician; Chef; Author and health coach; Founder and owner of TheChefDoc, an online wellness and lifestyle education platform; Host of the Thrive Bites podcast; Co-Host of Love, Scrubs & Stories podcast; Author of “Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life.”
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The human spine is more complex than you may realize, including a layered terrain of bone, discs, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other tissues.
Spine surgery has been around for more than 100 years. It’s safe to say that today’s spine surgery is vastly different from the early days, even from techniques in use 20 years ago.
In fact, spine surgery has become common, with about 1.6 million spine surgeries done each year in the United States. Even so, facing the possibility of spine surgery can be scary, and there are several myths about spine surgery that can affect people’s decisions. But the goal of spine surgery is to restore function and quality of life.
What makes a spine surgeon cringe? What’s the best way to keep your spine in good condition? How much does bad posture affect your spine?
Find out in Episode 75, where Dr. G and his guest, Jimmy Zhu, MD, discuss technological advancements in spine surgery, reasons someone would need surgery and answer FAQs.
Guest * Jimmy Zhu, MD – Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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It feels weird to think about planning what will happen at the end of your life.
But when you get past those natural feelings, it makes perfect sense.
Creating an end-of-life plan while you’re still able-bodied ensures you have control over what happens to you and it eliminates the stress those decisions would create for your family.
Most people haven’t talked about their own death or dying with anyone. But it’s never too early to talk about it with your loved ones, to share your concerns, fears and what’s important to you.
How early should people begin having discussions about end-of-life care? What is palliative care and how is it different than hospice care?
In Episode 74, Dr. G and his guest, Michael Sigman, MD, discuss why it’s important to plan the end of life and how to go about it.
Guest * Michael Sigman, MD – Board-certified hospice and palliative care physician; medical director of palliative services at Elmhurst Hospital, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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Mental health challenges, just like physical health challenges, affect everyone.
Mental health problems are more common than heart disease, lung disease and cancer combined. And they’re often underdiagnosed, mismanaged, or worse, ignored.
When it comes to athletes, there’s pressure to be strong, push through pain, pull through for their teams and to win. Mental health often takes a back seat.
Depression and anxiety are common disorders, yet the stigma about mental health prevents people from talking about it or seeking help.
In Episode 73, Dr. G and his guest, Stephanie Aylward, PhD, discuss why mental health is important for athletes (and everyone) and what athletes can do to stay healthy.
Guest * Stephanie Aylward, PhD – Clinical neuropsychologist at NorthShore Comprehensive Concussion Clinics, NorthShore University HealthSystem.
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When it comes to groundbreaking new technology, the field of cardiology has always seemed to be at the forefront.
The fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States is one of the reasons technology companies continue to invest billions into research and development of what may be some of the most influential game changers the healthcare industry has ever seen.
A smartwatch can collect heart data. Monitors can be implanted to collect heart failure symptoms and alert a patient’s physician of a cardiac event. And those examples are just the tip of the iceberg.
This is good news for people with heart disease, as there are many treatment options for conditions that previously had less promising prognoses. The tech also allows physicians to catch and treat conditions earlier, which leads to better outcomes and fewer hospitalizations.
In Episode 72, Dr. G and his guest, Kousik Krishnan, MD, discuss breakthroughs in heart technology and what it means for patients.
Guest
- Kousik Krishnan, MD - Double board-certified cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist, Midwest Cardiovascular Institute.
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Weight is a sensitive topic for everyone, and kids and teens are especially aware of the stigma that can come with carrying extra pounds.
Childhood obesity is common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, between 2017-2020, the prevalence of obesity among kids and adolescents ages 2 to 19 was 19.7 percent, affecting about 14.7 million people.
What causes it? Nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle choices fuel chronic disease, including obesity. Genetics can play a role as well.
Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in America. When should parents be concerned about their child’s weight, and what can they do if their child is obese?
In Episode 71, Dr. G and his guest, Jenny Hasler, MD, IBCLC, discuss how to help children achieve a healthy weight, including how parents can address their child’s health without judgement or shame.
Guest
- Jenny Hasler, MD, IBCLC – Board-certified pediatrician and international board-certified lactation consultant, Swedish Medical Group Pediatrics.
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When it comes to stroke, “time is brain.” You’ve probably heard that before. But what does that mean?
Stroke is a medical emergency that requires treatment as soon as possible. The sooner someone receives treatment, the more likely they are to avoid catastrophic injury or death.
When stroke symptoms are identified, quick action can literally save someone’s brain.
Every 40 seconds someone in America has a stroke, and every three and a half minutes, someone dies from stroke.
Stroke is the leading cause of serious disability among adults and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.
High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are all factors that increase your risk for stroke. Stroke is 80 percent preventable and is usually a result of other chronic medical conditions. If you can treat those early, you’re less likely to have a stroke.
Getting back to the “time is brain” idea, it’s important to know how to recognize the signs that someone is having a stroke. Do you know the symptoms? You will after you listen to this episode.
In Episode 70, Dr. G and his guest, Matthew McCoyd, MD, discuss how to recognize the signs of stroke, how stroke is treated and ways to prevent one.
Guest
- Matthew McCoyd, MD – Board-certified neurologist, associate professor and residency program director, neurology, Loyola Medicine.
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The human-pet bond is truly remarkable. Pets make us laugh and they make us feel loved. Animals can brighten your life and provide enduring friendship and emotional support.
Humans and animals can form a bond that’s essential to the health and well-being of both. Studies show pet ownership can help prevent heart disease. Many healthcare organizations have therapy dogs brought in regularly to visit with patients.
Companionship is one of the main reasons people get pets. Beyond that, caring for an animal gives us purpose and can provide numerous health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and easing stress.
In Episode 69, Dr. G and his guests, veterinarian Jeni Waeltz, DVM, CPC, and Cynthia Brooks, administrator of Animal-Assisted Therapy at Edward-Elmhurst Health, discuss the ways pets can improve our mental and physical health.
Guests:
Jeni Waeltz, DVM, CPC – Owner, veterinarian and coach at The Welcome Waggin.
Cynthia Brooks – Program administrator of Animal-Assisted Therapy at Edward-Elmhurst Health; Supervisor of volunteer services at Edward Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
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The process of making art can result in a lot more than just a finished product to display on a shelf.
Given the proliferation of adult coloring books and DIY painting studios, it seems some folks have figured this out. Does spending time making art really improve our mental state? Taking it a step further, can artistic activities help heal mental health conditions?
Creative arts therapy offers engaging ways to boost awareness of the arts and promote healing. It can help increase our awareness of ourselves and others, help us cope with stress and trauma, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasure of making art.
Creative arts therapy combines psychotherapy with art-based activities, including music and drama, to help treat mental health conditions. Creative arts therapists use art to help everyone, including kids and adults, hospitalized people, veterans and families or couples.
It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, artistically inclined or not. Anyone can participate in and benefit from creative arts therapy. Music and creativity are inherent parts of the human experience.
Sound interesting? This episode is for you.
In Episode 68, Dr. G and his guests, music therapist Sarah Clewett and art therapist Valerie Maty, discuss how creative arts therapy is used not only to treat mental health but also how everyone can use art to improve their own well-being.
Guest
- Sarah Clewett, MA, MT-BC - Master of arts in music therapy and a board-certified music therapist at the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts; Classically trained oboist and musician.
- Valerie Maty, DAT, ATR-BC, LCPC, SEP, RPT, CADC - Doctorate in art therapy, board-certified art therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, somatic experiencing practitioner, registered play therapist and certified alcohol and drug counselor at Labyrinth Counseling Center.
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Healthcare is a basic human right. We all deserve to be able to function at our best, to take care of ourselves and our families.
In an ideal world, everyone would have equitable access to universal health services.
Unfortunately, health disparities exist everywhere, in all communities. In fact, if you’re not seeing health disparities, you’re not looking.
Why should everyone care about health equity?
Addressing health equity benefits all of us. Health disparities costs the country billions of dollars on an annual basis. Every individual in our society has a role to play in addressing health disparities, and we can all do better at understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds, values and beliefs of others.
In Episode 67, Dr. G and his guests, Hiral Patel, DC, and Karen Ayala, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department, discuss why health equity matters to everyone and how healthcare organizations can address it.
Guest
- Hiral Patel, DC – System Director of Innovation, Activation, & Enablement at NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health; Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Edward-Elmhurst Health.
- Karen Ayala – Executive Director at the DuPage County Health Department.
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When our feet aren’t properly cared for, we’re setting ourselves up for injury and other challenges.
Taking a closer look at our feet can help us take care of health issues we may not have noticed otherwise.
What’s the best way to maintain good foot health? Look at your feet. Really look at them. Things like corns, calluses, toenail fungus and ingrown nails can cause difficulty walking, which could trigger a fall that could result in an injury.
Got pain? Evaluate your shoes first. An ill-fitting or older shoe can also cause pain that could be fixed simply by wearing more supportive shoes.
Keeping an eye on your feet can also help alert you to deeper health issues. Swelling, cold feet, numbness or tingling, sores that won’t heal – these symptoms can point to other diseases that affect your overall health.
Keeping your feet healthy is more important than you may think.
In Episode 66, Dr. G and his guest, Allison Cheney, DPM, discuss common foot problems, how to prevent and treat them, and why foot health is so vital.
Guest
- Allison Cheney, DPM – Board-certified podiatric surgeon and owner of AllCare Foot and Ankle.
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Joint replacement can help relieve pain and enable you to live a fuller, more active life. Almost 1.25 million hip and knee replacement surgeries were performed in 2019 in the U.S.
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure where parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic or ceramic device called a prosthesis, which is designed to replicate the movement of a normal healthy joint.
How can you tell when joint replacement is necessary? How risky is the surgery? How bad is it if you don’t replace a damaged joint?
If you are or someone you love is contemplating joint replacement surgery, this episode is essential.
In Episode 65, Dr. G and his guest, Denis Williams, M.D., discuss and answer frequently asked questions about joint replacement surgery.
Guest
- Denis Williams, M.D. – Board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Swedish Medical Group; Chairman, Department of Surgery at Swedish Hospital.
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As we age, our bodies sometimes develop conditions that let us know we’re not as young as we used to be.
Arthritis is one of those conditions. But while joint pain is more common in older adults, arthritis also develops in younger adults and children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis affects about 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. Unfortunately, arthritis symptoms are often dismissed, which causes a delay in treatment.
Arthritis can be any kind of joint pain or damage to a joint. In fact, pain is the most common initial symptom, though people often live with the pain until it becomes debilitating.What causes arthritis? Your physician can get to the root cause, but some things that can cause it include genetics, age, environmental factors and physical conditions, like obesity, diabetes or high cholesterol.
In Episode 64, Dr. G and his guest, Nisha Dsilva, D.O., discuss the symptoms and causes of arthritis as well as how to ease the pain.
Guest
- Nisha Dsilva, DO – Board-certified rheumatologist, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group.
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Weight is a topic that sparks an emotional reaction in almost everyone.
But for some, weight and eating can become the focus of a serious disorder.
An estimated 20 million Americans have or have had an eating disorder at some time in their lives.
An eating disorder can impact a person’s daily functioning and affect their relationships, work or school.
Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders that can lead to behaviors with major health consequences.
Eating disorders can be secretive, hidden from family and even physicians. They’re dangerous, but help is readily available.
How would you know if someone you love has an eating disorder? What puts people at risk for eating disorders?
In Episode 63, Dr. G and his guests, Jacqueline Sierzega, PsyD, and Katie O’Donnell, LCSW, CADC, discuss the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, how they develop and what can be done to help people who are struggling with an eating disorder.
Guests
- Jacqueline Sierzega, PsyD – Board-certified clinical psychologist, manager of eating disorder services and doctoral training, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
- Katie O’Donnell, LCSW, CADC – Licensed clinical social worker and certified drug and alcohol counselor, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
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One-size-fits-all doesn’t work well when it comes to healthcare.
Every patient is different. That’s why precision medicine, or personalized medicine, is so valuable. It takes an individualized approach, using a combination of the patient’s genetics, family medical history and lifestyle to determine the best treatment.
While the role of precision medicine in day-to-day healthcare today is relatively focused on cancer treatment, docs and researchers hope this approach will expand to all areas of health and become the standard of care in years to come.
What promises does precision medicine offer now and in the future?
In Episode 62, Dr. G and his guest, Peter Hulick, M.D., discuss precision medicine and what it means for the future of healthcare.
Guest
- Peter Hulick, MD – Double board-certified internist and clinical geneticist, NorthShore University Health System.
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Sudden cardiac arrest was thrust into the national spotlight in January, when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after a tackle.
Thankfully, the team’s medical staff began immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and restored his heartbeat, actions Hamlin’s doctors credited with saving his life.
As an elite athlete, is his situation unique?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public health problem. It’s a condition where the heart stops beating without warning and can lead to death in minutes if the person doesn’t get help right away.
Chances of survival are 10-15 percent when it happens outside of a hospital. Yet, early recognition and effective CPR can double or triple the chance of survival. CPR is, quite possibly, the most important skill a non-medical person should know.
Are there symptoms or warning signs of a cardiac arrest? Who is at risk?
In Episode 61, Dr. G and his guest Moeen Saleem, M.D., discuss the facts about cardiac arrest, why it’s vital that people learn how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest, how to provide effective CPR and how to use an Automatic External Defibrilator (AED).
Guest
- Moeen Saleem, MD – Double board-certified cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist, Midwest Cardiovascular Institute; Director of the Electrophysiology Lab at Edward Hospital.
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Obesity is more complicated than just overeating. Multiple factors contribute to the condition, making it a complex problem to solve.
It’s a chronic disease that requires long-term, structured management. Unfortunately, obesity is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
It’s understandable, given the societal stigma of obesity, to feel offended if your doctor raises the issue of weight. But your doctor isn’t trying to shame you—obesity is a legitimate health concern that can lead to serious problems like diabetes.
It’s a sensitive topic. But if you need to lose weight and aren’t sure how to do it or have tried everything you can think of without success, involve your physician. Doctors understand the science behind weight loss and can be valuable partners in finding a solution that works for you.
In Episode 60, Dr. G and his guests Neha Shah, MD, and Ryan Headley, MD, discuss obesity treatment options and answer frequently asked questions about weight loss.
Guests
- Neha Shah, MD – Triple board-certified obesity medicine specialist, lifestyle medicine specialist and internal medicine physician; Endeavor Weight Loss Management, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
- Ryan Headley, MD – Board-certified general surgeon and bariatric surgeon; Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute; Endeavor Weight Loss Management, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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Gyms are filled with people who understand exercise is an essential part of good health. Who doesn’t want to build muscle, gain speed and increase agility?
There’s a large difference between the average person’s workout and a professional athlete’s workout, but we can still learn from the pro’s training regimen.
Is there a race you’re planning to run? A basketball league you want to join? Setting a fitness goal is the first step to improving your performance. Get organized – set your goal, then plan out your weeks full of workouts designed to help you meet it.
How’s your sleep? What do you eat? Healthy lifestyle habits should supplement your exercise routine.
When it comes to fitness performance, what can amateurs learn from the pros?
In Episode 59, Dr. G and his guest, David Williams, former national team player and strength and conditioning coach for USA Rugby, share tips to take your fitness to the next level.
Guest
- David Williams – Former national team player and strength and conditioning coach for USA Rugby.
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Men don’t cry—showing emotion is weak.
Men must stay tough, physically and emotionally.
Sound familiar? The male stereotype in our culture certainly leans toward the strong, silent type. But is it healthy? Historically, boys have been called out for behavior that doesn’t match society’s definition of manhood.
But is it causing toxic masculine traits to take hold? And how do we reverse the trend?
The meaning and depth of masculinity differs between cultures and time periods. To better understand what healthy masculinity is, it’s helpful to understand how masculinity becomes toxic.
What is healthy masculinity and why is it important?
In Episode 58, Dr. G and his guest, Todd Fink, CADC, discuss masculine traits and how to encourage men to be their true selves.
Guest
- Todd Fink, CADC – Certified alcohol and drug counselor at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health; Artist & TEDx speaker; Host of The Kind Mind podcast.
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Whether you’re 80 or 8, good oral health is the foundation of good overall health. Most adults say they plan to visit the dentist within the coming year, but only 37 percent of adults have actually seen their dentist within the last year.
Remember this: If your teeth aren’t healthy, your overall health could suffer.
Developing your own routine or ritual for maintaining oral health at home is key. Start with the basics: brush and floss twice a day for a few minutes. If it’s a habit, you’ll keep doing it. The same way it’s important to check in with your primary care physician for an annual physical, it’s important to visit the dentist. Even if nothing hurts and your teeth feel fine—don’t wait until you’re in pain or there’s a problem.
In fact, your dentist can see signs of diseases like sleep apnea, cancer or diabetes just by looking in your mouth. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, don’t be afraid to go back. Today’s dentistry isn’t like it was when you or your parents were kids—it’s more technologically advanced and much less scary.
In Episode 57, Dr. G and his guest, Keven Wells, DDS, dispel the myths about dentistry and share inside information about what dentists can see in your mouth, the best tools and techniques (should you brush your tongue?) and how checkups can keep you healthy.
Guest
- Keven Wells, DDS – Dentist, founder and owner of Living Well Dental Group.
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Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are all too common in the United States. In fact, they are a contributing factor in 30 percent of all injury deaths and are a major cause of disability.
Sometimes the effects of TBIs last several days, sometimes symptoms linger the rest of someone’s life.
Concussions are most common in girls’ soccer in North America. It’s not just athletes who have to worry about concussions—they can happen to anyone at any age. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can happen during car accidents, falls at home or just accidentally banging your head on something.
What are the symptoms of a concussion? What can people do to reduce the risk of head injury? What should we do if a loved one is diagnosed with a TBI?
In Episode 56, Dr. G and his guest, Kevin Jackson, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon, answer frequently asked questions about concussions and traumatic brain injuries and share vital facts about symptoms and treatment.
Guest
- Kevin Jackson, MD – Board-certified neurosurgeon, Northwestern Medicine; unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant with the National Football League.
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Monkeypox. COVID-19. RSV. Influenza.
Antibiotics aren’t going to treat these viral infections.
Besides the misconception that antibiotics can help viral infections, the misinformation about vaccines and prevention measures has contributed to the spread of disease.
It’s important to understand how to protect ourselves from illness, particularly infectious diseases (illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites) that can spread through a population — some more easily than others.
Besides healthy living — eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep — what else should we do to avoid infectious diseases?
In Episode 55, Dr. G and his guest, Jaime Belmares, MD, a board-certified infectious disease specialist, have a detailed discussion on infectious diseases, their treatment and prevention.
Guest
- Jaime Belmares, MD – Board-certified infectious disease specialist, Metro Infectious Disease Consultants
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Radiology is the use of imaging, like X-rays, for medical purposes and is one of the most important disciplines in medicine. Without radiologists, or doctors who interpret what’s in the images, patients wouldn’t get the diagnoses they need. Often that diagnosis is crucial to saving someone’s life.
Radiologists analyze X-rays, MRIs and other images and share what they think is going on in the images. They can also perform procedures related to the test, such as biopsies and inserting stents.
Many patients never even see the radiologist, but the radiologist sees a lot (how about an engagement ring that was accidentally swallowed?).
In Episode 54, Dr. G and his guest, Marcus Parker, MD, board-certified general and diagnostic radiologist, discuss some of the things they’ve seen as well as fascinating details about radiology and its vital importance in healthcare.
Guest
Marcus Parker, MD – Board-certified general and diagnostic radiologist, Radiology Associates of Clearwater.
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Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. There are about 264,000 new cases diagnosed in women in the U.S. each year.
Making healthy life choices overall is one of the best ways to avoid breast cancer. Considering breast cancer is also easier to treat when it is detected early, one of the worst things women can do is think they’re not vulnerable and avoid screenings.
In fact, women can be their own worst enemy when it comes to staying healthy. Packed schedules often leave little time for self-care. Women often have kids, families, work and other obligations that they may prioritize before annual screenings.
However, the most common symptom of breast cancer is no symptoms — breast cancer is often discovered early through mammograms before a woman notices any sort of a change.
Most women who have symptoms notice changes in their bodies, such as pain, swelling, lumps or asymmetry. If something seems abnormal, even if you doubt it’s important, physicians want to hear about it.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while it’s important to remain vigilant year-round, it’s a good time to highlight important facts about breast cancer.
In Episode 53, Dr. G and his guest, Christine Gresik, MD, FACS, board-certified surgical breast oncologist, discuss screenings, symptoms, treatment options and other essential information women should know about breast cancer.
Guest * Christine Gresik, MD, FACS – Board-certified surgical breast oncologist, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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When was the last time you had your eyes checked?
Chances are, it’s been a while.
Eye disorders are some of the most common conditions seen in clinical practice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 93 million adults are at high risk for serious vision loss—but only half had visited an eye doctor within the last 12 months.
Maintaining healthy vision requires more than regular eye doctor checkups. Prevention and early detection of serious eye disease can help preserve your eyesight.
You can see fine, you say? Don’t wait until you have vision problems to see a doctor. Regular checkups with an eye doctor can help you track changes in your vision and stay on top of potential problems that could affect it.
Vision directly relates to quality of life. Unfortunately, we often don’t appreciate good vision until it’s impaired or gone. Thankfully, there are things doctors can do that can preserve or improve vision.
In Episode 51, Dr. G and his guest, Courtney Crawford, M.D., FACS, a board-certified ophthalmologist, explain common sight issues and share the best ways to maintain good vision.
Guest
- Courtney Crawford, MD, FACS – Board-Certified ophthalmologist, retina specialist, and owner of Star Retina; Assistant professor of surgery at Texas Christian University Burnett School of Medicine.
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Childhood vaccines, school learning struggles and mental health: These topics have been top of mind for parents since early 2020.
Now that the third pandemic school year has begun, parents are still working to ensure their kids are healthy and thriving despite the public health challenges.
Vaccines have always been important for kids, and now physicians include the COVID-19 vaccine with necessary childhood vaccinations.
The lockdowns of 2020 contributed to anxiety and potential learning loss. As society continues its slow walk toward normalcy, what can parents do to help their kids make up for lost time or ease their anxiety?
In Episode 51, Dr. G and his guest Annie Ryan, MSN, CPNP, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, have a can’t-miss conversation about child vaccinations, learning loss and mental health.
Guest
- Annie L. Ryan, MSN, CPNP – Certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Swedish Medical Group, Swedish Hospital; Past-president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
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In the U.S., September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It remains one of the most frequently diagnosed types of cancer among men in this country. In fact, it’s the second most common type of cancer among men. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 260,490 new cases and 34,500 deaths in the U.S. from prostate cancer this year.
The average man has a 1 in 8 risk of prostate cancer. That risk can increase if someone has a family history of prostate cancer, or if a man is African American. Prostate cancer doesn’t only strike older men, though your risk rises as you age.
Men need to know this, and not just in September.
In Episode 50, listen as Dr. G and his guest, Brian McNeil, MD, MBA, FACS, share information about symptoms of prostate cancer, how to know when you or someone you know is at risk of prostate cancer, and when to talk to your doctor about a screening.
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The state of mental health in America is precarious. Too many Americans are experiencing mental health crises without the support they need. For people aged 10-34, suicide is a leading cause of death.
In 2020 alone, the U.S. had one suicide death every 11 minutes. Nearly 20 percent of American adults experienced mental illness in 2019.
Mental healthcare is as crucial as physical healthcare. While physicians have started promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, we’re still falling short. We need to change this reality. There is hope.
What is being done to close mental health access gaps in America?
Did you know there’s a new 3-digit number people can call to get immediate mental health support? 988 is a new nationwide number people can dial to reach help, whether it’s the person in the midst of a mental health crisis or someone worried about a loved one.
Listen as Dr. G and his guest, Sandra Manley-Eichler, LCSW, with Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, talk about this and other ways to close the mental health access gaps in America.
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How would you know if you had a pelvic floor problem?
If you thought you had a pelvic floor problem, would you need medical help to fix it?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, nerves and connective tissues that support our pelvic organs.
Unfortunately, the pelvic floor doesn’t always function like it’s supposed to. The National Institutes of Health reports that almost 25 percent of women have pelvic floor disorders. Men can also experience pelvic health issues, which can even lead to erectile dysfunction.
Whether it’s weakness, pressure, heaviness, fullness, tightness or pain, there are ways medical experts can address pelvic problems. A pelvic floor issue shouldn’t keep you from any activity you want to do.
Listen as Dr. G and his guests, Kelly Jirschele, DO, a board-certified urogynecologist, and Natalie Florio, a physical therapist, discuss common pelvic floor disorders and how to treat and prevent them.
Guest
- Kelly Jirschele, DO, FACOG, FACS – Board-certified urogynecologist, Illinois Urogynecology, LTD; medical director, Women’s Center for Pelvic Medicine at Edward Hospital.
- Natalie Florio – Physical therapist, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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Conventional medicine, integrative medicine and functional medicine. They’re all different perspectives on health and treatment. One style is becoming increasingly mainstream: functional medicine. Ever hear of it?
Functional medicine is an attempt to get to the root cause of illness and correct the problem. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s figuring out how someone’s external influences, life choices and biological systems uniquely work together to create a focused treatment strategy.
It’s a deeper dive into what’s going on behind the scenes of each patient’s illness, particularly chronic illness. Half of all adults in the U.S. have at least one chronic health condition. Functional medicine can help correct chronic health issues with a detailed, personalized approach.
Listen as Dr. G and his guest, Daniel Murauski, DO, an Institute for Functional Medicine certified practitioner and family medicine physician with Edward-Elmhurst Health, talk about how functional medicine can help get to the root of illness.
Guest
- Daniel Murauski, DO – Double board-certified family medicine and integrative medicine physician at Edward-Elmhurst Health, Institute for Functional Medicine certified practitioner.
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Young athletes need special attention and care when participating in sports. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, up to 45 million children and teens participate in some type of organized sport. With these astounding numbers, injuries become par for the course and game-time pressures rise.
Besides minor sprains and strains, ACL injuries, elbow overuse and Achilles injuries occur frequently with young athletes.
Is it okay for a growing child to train year round? How can parents determine when their child needs medical attention versus treating an injury with rest and ice? And how do you help a child cope if an injury forces them to stop playing?
Sports are a large part of a kid’s identity and teammates often become close friends. They’re also an escape — an activity kids (and adults) use to balance their mental health. When an injury derails that activity, it can cause more than just physical pain.
Listen as Dr. G and his guests, sports medicine specialist Zahab Ahsan, MD and Doctor of Occupational Therapy Keagan Hadley discuss the best ways to keep young athletes balanced, healthy and injury free.
Guest
- Zahab Ahsan, MD – Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
- Keagan Hadley, OTD – Doctor of Occupational Therapy and author of the Amazon bestseller, Torn: Overcoming the Psychological Challenges Post-ACL Injury.
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Summer is the season most of us look forward to the most—long days, warm weather and outdoor fun!
Unfortunately, it’s well documented that emergency room (ER) visits spike in the summer. Why?
Summertime should be fun and carefree—but some carefree actions can lead to traumatic injuries. Taking three seconds to think before diving into a potentially reckless activity can help prevent a lot of problems.
For example, riding vehicles like a bike or a skateboard, or driving an ATV without wearing a helmet is one of those potentially reckless activities that people should rethink, says Daryl Wilson, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Edward-Elmhurst Health and Dr. G’s expert guest for Episode 45.
Listen as Dr. Wilson and Dr. G share the summer safety tips you need to know so you and your family can skip the trip to the ER.
Guest
- Daryl Wilson, MD – Board-certified emergency medicine physician, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
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The field of pathology is often a mystery. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain. Society’s perception of pathology as an enigma will be no more!
Pathologists often study human tissue, blood and fluids under microscopes in labs to figure out what went wrong. They also study gene therapy and ways to improve genetic diseases.
The information they collect helps physicians treat their patients.
They study diseases that seem to have no effective cures. They do research and try to understand what changes in the body when things go wrong and what changes when healing begins.
Get insider details in Episode 44 as Dr. G and his guest, pathologist Michael Lawler, M.D., Ph.D., discuss the secrets of pathology.
Guest
- Michael W. Lawlor, MD, PhD – Double board-certified anatomic pathologist and neuropathologist; CEO, Diverge Translational Sciences Laboratory; Tenured professor of pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin.
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We’ve come a long way from the time when humans hunted and grew their own food.
Today, most of our food is provided through complex food processing and distribution systems. This begs the question: What’s really in your food and how do we make food better?
Processed food has carbohydrates, fats, protein and vitamins we need — along with preservatives, flavor and color additives, and other things you may not realize. For instance, what keeps M&M’s from melting in your hands? Is there something in instant pudding that makes it thicken without any heat?
Listen in on the conversation in Episode 43 as Dr. G and his guest, Food Scientist David Allen, discuss the science behind what we eat.
Guest
- David Allen – Food scientist who is trying to make a difference.
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Determining what’s myth and fact about opioid pain medication can be tough. Every community in America has been affected by the opioid crisis.
An opioid is medicine that is prescribed for pain that attaches to opioid receptors in the brain to block pain signaling. They can be used when the pain is particularly aggressive. There are situations where opioid medication can be helpful, but it’s not the only way to control pain. The problem: opioids can have a euphoric effect and are habit forming.
When people introduce opioids to their bodies, they can develop a tolerance that requires higher doses to experience the same effects. When they stop taking the medication, they feel terrible. That said, some patients need a daily dose to manage chronic pain. It’s a balancing act, and a plan for use should be developed and monitored by a physician.
Drug overdose deaths have reached all-time highs and it’s largely due to the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Physicians have drastically cut opioid prescriptions, yet the numbers continue to rise. People who are addicted to opioids seek the drug elsewhere, mainly on the street.
More troubling is the fact that the synthetic opioid overdose rate among teens age 14-18 has doubled in the last three years.
What’s driving this dramatic increase and what can be done about it? How do you know if a family member or friend is addicted to opioids?
Catch the conversation in Episode 42, as Dr. G and his guests, John K. Hong, MD and Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP, discuss the opioid overdose epidemic, opioid addiction and safer options for pain relief.
Guests
- John K. Hong, MD – Double board-certified in pain management and anesthesiology, founder and president of Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians.
- Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP – Licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in counseling psychology, master addiction counselor; owner and founder of Bridge Forward Group, LLC; president-elect, Society of Addiction Psychology; host of the “Let’s Talk with Dr. Aaron Weiner” webcast series available now on your favorite podcasting apps.
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Skin is one of the most important organs in the human body, and it needs attention and care to stay healthy.
When it comes to skincare, less is more. Everyone’s basic skincare routine should include cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.
What sunscreen works best when you’re sweating outside playing summer sports? Would the same one work for a day in the office? And can that stuff get expensive?
Besides a basic skincare routine, it’s important to notice changes in your skin. But what are normal skin changes versus something a doctor should see?
Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and anyone who spends time in the sun is at risk. So how far should you go to protect your skin from the sun? Is tanning OK? What SPF should you use?
Get answers in Episode 41, as Dr. G and his guest, Ryan Freeland, MD, get into more detail on skincare and skin cancer prevention.
Guest
- Ryan Freeland, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist; Founder and owner at Wolverine Dermatology.
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Medical cannabis is still illegal under federal law in the U.S. However, this federal law hasn’t deterred 37 states from legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. It’s critical that healthcare leaders and physicians remain guided by medicine and science to provide accurate, honest info so they can make the best decisions for their patients.
Cannabis, a plant used as medicine and for recreational purposes, has positives and negatives. Medical experts say they need more research to determine the most appropriate, safest ways to use medicinal cannabis.
Is cannabis safe to use for medical purposes? How do you get it? Do you have to smoke it? What conditions can it potentially help?
In Episode 40, Dr. G and his guests, Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD and Shalu Gugnani, MD, discuss what medical cannabis can do, how it works and the pros and cons everyone should know.
Guest
- Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD, ABOIM – Double board-certified integrative medicine and family medicine physician; Owen L. Coon Chair of Integrative Medicine and Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program at Northshore University Health System; Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
- Shalu Gugnani, MD, FASAM – Double board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician; Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Northwest Community Healthcare.
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Aging is a fact of life. Despite the inevitable, we all strive to maintain good health, strong muscles, an efficient immune system, a sharp mind and a healthy brain.
Hormones obviously work at peak capacity in our younger years. How awesome would it be if we could retain that biological efficiency throughout our lives?
Regenerative medicine has the potential to improve our mood, lessen pain and improve our sex drives as we age.
Long-term ailments such as tennis elbow, arthritis, ACL tears—even hair loss, facial collagen loss and diminishing sexual performance—can potentially benefit from regenerative medicine. Even dentists use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to treat dental issues and help patients recover from surgery. It’s important to note that, if you have a chronic illness, PRP treatments won’t be a cure. They are used in addition to other, higher-priority treatments such as physical therapy and medication recommended by your physician.
Episode 39 is the second part of our two-part series on regenerative medicine, with a focus on anti-aging and hormone replacement. Listen in and hear details on the fascinating world of anti-aging regenerative medicine from Dr. G and his guest, board-certified emergency medicine physician Scott Yilk, MD.
Guest
- Scott Yilk, MD – Board-certified emergency medicine physician, Edward-Elmhurst Health; Medical director at IVme.
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Regenerative medicine has the potential to fully heal damaged tissues, offering hope and solutions for people who are looking for a non-surgical or non-medicated approach to recovery.
Stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help promote healing and play an important role in tissue repair mechanisms.
Long-term ailments such as tennis elbow, arthritis, ACL tears—even hair loss, facial collagen loss and diminishing sexual performance—can potentially benefit from regenerative medicine.
Even dentists use PRP to treat dental issues and help patients recover from surgery. It’s important to note that, if you have a chronic illness, PRP treatments won’t be a cure. They are used in addition to other, higher-priority treatments such as physical therapy and medication recommended by your physician.
Over the next two episodes of the podcast, you’ll hear from expert physicians who are leading the next frontier of medical innovation while promoting reversative and anti-aging therapeutics.
In Episode 38, you’ll get details on these fascinating therapeutics from Dr. G and his guest, family medicine physician and sports medicine specialist Moises Irizarry-Roman, MD.
Guest
- Moises Irizarry-Román, M.D. – Board-certified family medicine physician and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist, Chief Medical Officer for Ultimate Medical Group, and founder and owner of No Mercy Sports Medicine.
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While you may be familiar with the term acupuncture, you may still have some questions about what it is, why people do it and whether it could help you.
Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine practice that uses fine, sterile needles inserted into the skin to stimulate the body’s various systems. It traces its roots back more than 3,000 years, but in the last 40 years this ancient healing practice has experienced increased popularity in the United States.
Its goal is the same as traditional medicine: to restore a state of optimal health. But the methods are a bit different.
As more Americans try acupuncture, its popularity in the United States has gradually grown. People who have experienced acupuncture have helped spread the word about its benefits. Many people have tried acupuncture because they were seeking a more natural treatment for certain diseases or when recommended as a complementary therapy by their doctor.
Acupuncture isn’t a replacement for medical care or regular physicals with a primary care physician. But it could be helpful as a supplemental therapy.
Ever wonder what an acupuncture session is like? In Episode 37, you’ll get details on acupuncture, how it’s used and how it can help people from Dr. G and his guest, acupuncturist Alejandro Fernandez, NMD, L.Ac.
Guest
- Alejandro Fernandez, NMD, L.Ac – Health and wellness coach, licensed acupuncturist, naturopathic medicine doctor.
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Nurses are an unstoppable force. They’re at the center of our healthcare system and play a vital role in providing care, comfort and compassion for their patients and patients’ families.
Despite their caring demeanor, nurses would rather not see you in the hospital. Preventive healthcare is their priority for patients—getting regular checkups and keeping health concerns from developing into a serious condition is key to avoiding the hospital, not to mention the intensive care unit.
They work hard. During the pandemic, and even before, nurses have experienced burnout. They emotionally invest in their patients and patients’ families, which can be mentally exhausting, especially during tough times. It’s even contributed to the national nurse shortage.
For all they do, we’re honored to give a shoutout to nurses, our heroes in healthcare.
In Episode 36, you’ll learn more about nurse life and the future of nursing as Mark Gomez, MD, talks with guests.
Guests
- Marguerite Manseau, RN – Registered nurse, Edward Hospital intensive care unit.
- Marijana Vidovic, RN – Registered nurse, Elmhurst Hospital progressive critical care unit.
Surgery, whether elective or emergency, is done for many reasons. It’s important for patients to be informed.
Colonoscopy? Biopsy? C-section? Tonsillectomy? All surgical procedures.
Chances are, you’ll need some type of surgery, whether minor or major, at some point in your life.
Surgery has changed a lot over the years, from the primitive methods of the Stone Age and Middle Ages to today’s minimally invasive procedures completed with an incision the size of a keyhole.
Surgeons and surgery are commonly misunderstood. And the idea of being cut open is understandably frightening, no matter how minor the procedure.
But the more you know about something, the less mysterious and scary it becomes (knowledge is power!).
In Episode 35, you’ll learn more about what makes surgeons tick and get details on some of the most common surgical procedures from Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Peter Petratos, MD.
Gambling is a multi-billion-dollar industry that covers a wide spread of age groups, from middle school kids to the elderly. It’s estimated Americans spend more than 40 billion dollars a year on gambling.
Gambling is easy to access and can be done in a variety of ways. While many who gamble only do so occasionally, a significant portion of the population is classified as compulsive gamblers.
There’s nothing wrong with gambling — unless it causes problems for you or your family, or negatively affects other aspects of your life. Compulsive gamblers struggle with the ability to control their gambling habits. Gambling addiction can affect the gambler’s health, as well as their family, finances, job and relationships.
Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest Glen Cannon, LCPC, discuss how to identify a gambling addiction and the options available for treatment.
Guest
- Glen Cannon, LCPC – Licensed clinical professional counselor, Baber Psychiatric Group.
It’s that time of year when every day seems long and dark. You’ve probably heard of winter blues —you’ve probably even felt them yourself at some point.
The winter blues—or having cold weather and shorter, darker days of winter influencing how we think or feel—are very common. It’s hard for anyone to get through a cold, dark winter without feeling dragged down by it at some point.
So, what’s the difference between the “winter blues” and a more serious seasonal depression?
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is different, and more serious, than the winter blues. There are stronger, more consistently negative feelings. People feel more lethargic, less motivated. They are more likely to withdraw from friends and family.
Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest Dylan Panuska, PsyD, CADC, talk about SAD, mental health and how to feel better.
Guest
- Dylan Panuska, PsyD, CADC – Manager, behavioral health integration, Linden Oaks Medical Group.
When you look at how far we’ve come with technology in just the last two decades, it’s kind of mind-blowing.
Between the rise of tech and the increased societal focus on health and wellness, the healthcare technology industry is shifting.
Technology makes life easier, doesn’t it? And wearable technology puts personal health information right on your wrist. Healthcare is expected to become even more human-centric and personalized moving forward.
From the early days of vaccinations to public health measures like seatbelts to advanced medical technology, healthcare has come a long way and health technology continues to evolve. So, what does the future of medicine look like?
Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, and John Lee, MD, discuss what we might see in the future of healthcare in Episode 32.
Guests
- Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, MBA, MPH – President and CEO at UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint Accountable Care; Board-certified family medicine physician.
- John Lee, MD – Data advocate, board-certified emergency medicine physician; Senior vice president and chief medical information officer at Allegheny Health Network.
Everyone wants to smell better, right? People invest a lot of money in products to stifle and alter their natural scent.
But body odor is normal and natural, and it can be good and bad.
Interestingly, all body odor provides clues about our health. And everyone has their own unique odor, though generally speaking, the scent (stench?) of body odor is unmistakable.
What’s the best way to manage body odor? What if you sweat too much? Can what you eat affect the way you smell?
Listen as Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Alix Charles, MD, cover everything from sweat stains to shaving your underarms to using your odor to attract a new romantic partner in Episode 31.
Guest
- Alix Charles, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist and department chairman, division of dermatology at Duly Health & Care.
Our daily lifestyle choices matter more than we realize. It’s easy to fall into a less-healthy routine of convenience and imbalance. It’s also easy to procrastinate on matters of personal health, putting other people and responsibilities ahead of our own wellness. So how can we motivate ourselves to live healthier or to reach a wellness goal?
This is the perfect time to set a goal, develop a plan to reach it and track your progress. When you invest in yourself, you’re investing in not only your health but the health of the people around you.
Start with what’s important to you, and why. What’s your wellness goal for the new year? Where do you envision yourself? Sometimes the distance between our goal and our current situation can seem impossibly far—but it doesn’t have to be!
In Episode 30, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Gay Purcell, MD, explain how to establish a healthy routine and create a doable plan to reach your wellness goals.
Guest
- Gay Purcell, MD – Board-certified internist, founder and owner of Enhanced Health & Wellness; MDVIP Affiliate Physician.
The brain is arguably the most complex organ in the human body. A person’s brain determines how they experience the world. Calling the brain “three pounds of remarkable” is truly an understatement.
Your brain is fascinating, and its storage capacity is basically unlimited. Brain mapping and neurofeedback are foreign concepts to many, despite the growing body of evidence supporting their impact on focus, relaxation and other areas.
So, what is brain mapping? It’s basically looking under the hood, so to speak, to figure out what is happening in someone’s brain that could be causing symptoms such as anxiety, depression or difficulty concentrating. Technology can analyze brain waves to help identify areas of the brain that are “stuck” in a pattern of high arousal or low activity.
If you’re looking to discover how powerful the brain can be, brain mapping and neurofeedback could be right for you.
In Episode 29, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Kyle Bonesteel, PhD, ABPP-CN, BCN, explain brain mapping and neurofeedback and what it can do for you.
Guest
- Kyle Bonesteel, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, BCN – Board-certified Neuropsychologist; President and Founder at Neurohealth.
Chronic pain is a serious health condition that has many causes, including injuries, illnesses and prolonged physical, emotional or social stress. In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that an estimated 50 million Americans have some form of chronic pain.
Having to live with pain is uniquely personal. Factors like isolation, chronic stress, depression, anger and anxiety can exacerbate chronic pain.
Everyone deserves the best physical function and quality of life possible. When there isn’t a way to cure the pain, physicians look for ways to manage it so a person can improve their quality life. The most successful way to accomplish this is with a multi-faceted, individualized approach, which can include support from the person’s family and friends, consultations with a personal physician and specialists, and physical and alternative therapy.
In Episode 28, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, David Peng, MD, discuss the causes of and treatment strategies for chronic pain.
Guest
- David Peng, MD – Board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician, Medical Director at Edward Neuroscience Institute Pain Clinic.
Moms and moms-to-be deserve the best care. This is especially true when it comes to mental health. The joy of motherhood is often the focus, but it’s important to acknowledge that having a baby can be challenging in sometimes unanticipated ways.
The “baby blues” tend to strike after birth and are fairly common. Women experience a drop in hormones after giving birth, and often feel overwhelmed and stressed with a new baby at home.
Postpartum depression goes beyond baby blues. It’s a persistent sense of feeling overwhelmed and sad that lasts longer than the baby blues and is more severe. It can impact a woman’s ability to do her usual daily activities – women may have trouble sleeping, making meals, showering or driving.
Postpartum depression, a type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, is both common and treatable. Our goal in episode 27 is to help listeners better understand postpartum depression, learn to recognize the signs and identify resources for treatment.
Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH, and Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, CD (DONA), discuss postpartum depression and when it’s time to seek help.
Guests
- Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH – Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Tulane University.
- Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, CD (DONA) – Birth professional, educator, anti-racism strategist and attorney, Ravae Sinclair Consulting.
Let’s talk about sex and birth control! Seemingly when used together, these words are opposites. But the reality is you can’t have one without another. Since the dawn of humanity, not only has sex been an important part of life and reproduction, it’s a pleasurable activity that can help cement the bond between two people.
Having sex is essential to life. Most adults know their options when it comes to contraception, male and female. Some (birth control pills), of course, are more effective than others (withdrawal).
But conception and the misinformation swirling around it can be somewhat mysterious. Can you get pregnant, for instance, if you’re breastfeeding? What if the woman doesn’t have an orgasm? Can condoms cause erectile dysfunction?
One thing’s for certain: We’ve come a long way from the days of animal bladders, crocodile dung and sponges made of plants/grass/moss/bamboo for contraception.
In episode 26, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Kyle Kiriluk, MD, and Emilie McLain, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, lay out the facts about sex, conception and the latest information about birth control.
Guests
- Kyle Kiriluk, MD – Board-certified urologist, UroPartners.
- Emilie McLain, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC – Doctoral-prepared, board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner, The Wright Center for Women’s Health.
Emotional abuse is hard to talk about, but it’s a discussion worth having. Emotional health is a key component of overall health and well-being. If you personally have not experienced emotional abuse, there’s a good chance that someone you’re close to — a friend, neighbor, sibling, co-worker — has experienced it in the past or is dealing with it now.
Domestic abuse isn’t just a private, personal matter — it can be just as pervasive in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods.
It’s not limited to romantically involved partners. It can happen in a variety of relationships — between child and parent or boss and employee, for example. Victims of emotional abuse react in a variety of ways, experiencing everything from fear and anxiety to anger.
In episode 25, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Gillian Schmitz, MDE, FACEP, and Jason Morris, PsyD, CDP, explain the behavior associated with emotional abuse, how to recognize the signs of emotional abuse in someone who is a victim, and identify key resources to help people break free from it.
Get help for domestic violence. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE, or the National Mental Health Hotline (Dial 988).
Guest
- Gillian Schmitz, MD, FACEP – Board-certified emergency medicine physician and president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians Board of Directors, associate professor at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
- Jason Morris, PsyD, CDP – Licensed clinical psychologist and certified dementia practitioner, owner of Platinum Psychology Services.
Many of us live in pedal-to-the-metal mode most of the time.
But everyone needs time to recharge. It’s not selfish to take time for yourself. In fact, self-care is a critical component of good physical and mental health. So how do you take your foot off the gas?
We’d like to think we can do it all (working moms, we’re looking at you). But it’s important be realistic and honest with yourself. Know your limits and when to reinforce the boundaries around your personal time.
The concept of self-care isn’t new, but the application of it in your everyday life may seem strange if it’s not part of your usual routine. It might even spark feelings of guilt.
But intentionally caring for one’s whole self is vital. This includes basics like sleep, hydration, exercise, meditation and good nutrition.
In episode 24, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Perry Cammisa, DC, and Kristine Warnes, APN, offer practical ways to add self-care to your busy schedule.
Guests
- Perry Cammisa, DC – Doctor of Chiropractic, owner of Ultimate Medical Group.
- Kristine Warnes, APN – Board-certified family nurse practitioner, Endeavor Health Weight Management, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Optimal nutrition and regular exercise serve as powerful indicators of health in childhood and adolescence. Conversely, the long-term impact of poor nutrition and physical inactivity during the growing years are harbingers of lifelong healthcare concerns.
We can’t be naive to the reality that more needs to be done to boost nutritional and physical health in kids. Just as parents teach kids the skills for reading and writing, they must teach them the skills for healthy eating and the importance of physical activity.
But parents face an uphill battle to promote good nutrition and fitness in their kids.
For example, processed foods with added sugar seem to be everywhere, kids are in front of their screens for hours each day and, since the pandemic began, options for physical activity have been more limited.
What can parents do to boost nutritional health and physical activity in children?
In episode 23, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, pediatricians Joseph Russell, DO, and Victoria Uribe, MD, have a conversation about the importance of good nutrition and fitness in kids and ways parents can instill habits in their children that will last a lifetime.
Guest
- Joseph Russell, DO – Board-certified pediatrician, Duly Health and Care.
- Victoria Uribe, MD – Board-certified pediatrician, Elmhurst Clinic.
As it is for adults, mental health is a vital component of kids’ overall health and well-being.
During the pandemic, kids have faced additional stress (such as wearing a mask, remote school, lack of in-person play with friends) in addition to the typical child and adolescent stressors.
With mental health issues among children on the rise, many parents are looking for help identifying issues and treating their kids’ mental health.
But who should parents ask for help? How can parents create a special connection with their kids? What’s the best way to approach a sensitive situation? How can a parent tell whether their child’s mental health challenge is serious?
In episode 22, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Jyoti Shah, DO, and Susy Francis Best, PsyD, MBA, have an important conversation about mental health and the role parents can play in helping their kids develop and maintain a healthy mental outlook.
Guest
- Jyoti Shah, DO – Double board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist, Linden Oaks Medical Group.
- Susy Francis Best, PsyD, MBA – Clinical psychologist, founder and president of Thrive Group International, LLC.
You may have heard of atrial fibrillation (AFib), but do you know what it is? AFib is a common heart-related disorder. Many of us may know someone with AFib.
So why is it important to know about AFib?
Atrial fibrillation is an electrical disorder of the heart. It can cause fast, irregular heartbeats that can feel odd and cause symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, even chest congestion. Sometimes AFib causes no symptoms at all.
AFib is also linked to a higher risk of stroke and can cause heart failure, or weakened heart muscle. So it’s important to get under control.
In episode 21, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Apoor Gami, MD, provide an easy-to-understand explanation of this complicated condition and discuss risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.
Guest
- Apoor Gami, MD – Board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, Midwest Cardiovascular Institute.
Generally speaking, plant-based eating is a lack of animal protein in the diet. Instead, nutrition comes from sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and grains.
In a way, we are what we eat. Eat junk and you’ll feel like junk. Eat healthier and you’ll notice the difference in your energy level and overall well-being. Is it healthy for kids to eat vegetarian diets? Yep.
Plant-based diets have enormous health—and environmental—benefits.
There are layers to plant-based diets. They can be broken down into vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian – the levels can vary quite a bit.
So how do you make the transition to a plant-based diet (and how do you choose which one to follow)? Say you want to go plant-based but are worried about missing meat. Or you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re picturing boring plates of lettuce for dinner every night.
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Amish Doshi, MD, and Christine Doshi, MS, RD, LDN, discuss the benefits of plant-based diets and offer practical tips on to get started.
Guests
Amish Doshi, MD – Board-certified internal medicine physician, Edward-Elmhurst Health
Christine Doshi, MS, RD, LDN – Registered dietitian, Vida Health
Men, let’s face it: The more honest we all are with our health, the better it can be. It’s more macho to admit something is going on with your health rather than avoid the subject.
When it comes to sexual health, what are the common issues men avoid talking about?
Did you know that testosterone, the male dominant hormone, can affect everything from libido to muscle growth to brain health? While testosterone isn’t the cure for everything, it is important for male health.
Erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass and a lower sex drive could indicate low testosterone. There are other issues, such as premature ejaculation and urinary tract infections, that men may hesitate to bring up. To get help, however, men would have to share with their doctor that they are experiencing these perceived un-macho symptoms.
Remember: everything is open for discussion with your doctor (they’ve heard it all before).
In episode 19, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Paul Gittens, MD, FACS, discuss the taboo topics — specifically sexual health — men hate to bring up and why it’s important to address these health issues.
Guest
- Paul Gittens, MD, FACS – Board-certified urologist, sexual medicine specialist and public speaker, owner and founder of Centers for Sexual Medicine and Wellness in Philadelphia and New York.
Thanks to COVID-19, life as we know it hasn’t been “normal” for a while now.
The novel coronavirus, and the health precautions that came with it, sparked a full range of human emotion, including fear, gratitude, anger, grief and hope. When people are forced to uproot their lives amid a roller coaster of emotion, their mental health can suffer.
As vaccinations continue and the world gradually reopens, many people are feeling uneasy about returning to business as usual. There’s an official name for this feeling: re-entry anxiety.
Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Ines Casey, MD, board-certified infectious disease specialist, and Marc Browning, PsyD, ABPP, RN, board-certified clinical psychologist, talk about re-entry anxiety and how to overcome it.
Guests
- Marc Browning, PsyD, ABPP, RN – Board-certified clinical psychologist, clinical director, Linden Oaks Medical Group Counseling Services, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
- Ines Casey, MD – Board-certified infectious disease specialist, Metro Infectious Disease Consultants, LLC.
When it comes to the human body’s organs, the bladder tends to be overlooked.
Its job is to store liquid waste. It’s not as glamorous as the heart, lungs or skin. It’s not a powerhouse like the liver.
When our urinary health hits a speed bump, however, we take notice.
Urinary tract infections are common complaints but aren’t the only thing that can go wrong with urinary health—there’s incontinence, urinary retention, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis and bladder cancer, to name a few.
While some bladder conditions are more likely as we age, they aren’t something we just have to put up with as we get older. Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Kelly Jirschele, DO, board-certified urogynecologist, talk about the most common bladder problems and how to prevent and treat them.
Guest
- Kelly Jirschele, DO, FACOG, FACS – Board-certified urogynecologist, Illinois Urogynecology, LTD; Medical Director, Women’s Center for Pelvic Medicine at Edward Hospital.
The human microbiome includes trillions of microorganisms—viruses and bacteria—that live in and on us.
Is there really such a thing as good bacteria? Believe it or not, there is. They help us fight illness, they’re involved in digestion, they keep us healthy.
We know our mind can affect how our gut feels. (Ever get a “knot” in your stomach when you’re nervous?). You’d be surprised by how closely the mind and gut work together. So, what’s the connection?
Some gastrointestinal problems are caused by stress, anxiety and neurological disorders. Sometimes a gastrointestinal issue can cause or worsen stress or anxiety. Is it possible to change our gut to improve our mood?
Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, board-certified gastroenterologist Shivani Kiriluk, DO, discuss the gut-brain connection.
Guest
- Shivani Kiriluk, DO – Board-certified gastroenterologist at Suburban Gastroenterology, LTD.
Who doesn’t want to have great-looking skin (men included)?
While women are generally more inclined to investigate and spend time on skin care, most men also want to put their best face forward.
This episode will answer a lot of questions. What’s the one thing people should do daily to help avoid wrinkles, skin discoloration and skin cancer? Is microneedling as scary as it sounds? What skin care regimen does a dermatologist follow?
Our skin is our largest organ, and its care can be complicated. Luckily, we don’t have to try to figure out the best skin care routine alone. Dermatologists and estheticians are essential partners to help solve skin problems.
Listen as host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Dermatologist Alix Charles, MD, FAAD, discuss skin care techniques and treatment to keep your skin looking its best.
Guests
- Alix Charles, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist and department chairman, Division of Dermatology at DuPage Medical Group.
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guests, Louis Malinow, MD, and Bonnie Kastin, RDN, LDN, break down common diets and offer practical tips on how to establish sustainable, healthy eating habits.
In Greek, the word “diet” means “way of life.”
For so many people, day-to-day life revolves around food. With all the choices available and a fast food restaurant on every corner, it’s more important than ever to focus on healthier eating.
Almost all diseases can be prevented or delayed with better nutrition. Eating a standard American diet (ahem, processed food, a.k.a. anything in a box or a bag) can seriously affect your health!
Since almost everyone relies on processed food on a regular basis, this could be troubling. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. Small changes in your diet can make a big difference in your health.
There are three things we can control: what we eat, how much we eat and when we eat.
As diet culture evolves, various diets rise and fall in popularity.
Fasting, keto, counting macros – which dietary trends are the healthiest to follow? And is it possible to change your eating habits if others in your household don’t?
Guests
- Louis Malinow, MD - ASH certified hypertension specialist; Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Lipidology; Director of Education and Clinical Excellence at MDVIP.
- Bonnie Kastin, RDN, LDN - Registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian nutritionist, Suburban Gastroenterology, LTD.
When someone has an allergy, it means their immune system is overreacting to something in the environment it considers to be foreign (like a virus or bacteria), but for the most part is benign.
An allergen could be mold, tree pollen or pet dander. It could be an insect sting, medication or food. What about an allergic reaction to a vaccine?
Does everyone with an allergy need to carry an EpiPen? Do allergies ever go away? Does local honey help treat allergies? Can adults develop allergies?
Allergies are very common and can severely impact quality of life. The good news: we don’t have to live with allergy symptoms.
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Zachary Rubin MD, talk about common types of allergies and treatment, and bust some of the myths about allergies.
Guest
Zachary Rubin, MD - Double board-certified pediatrician specializing in allergy treatment and immunology at Oak Brook Allergists.
Good health is intertwined with good sleep. How have you been sleeping?
Sleep allows humans to recharge. It helps restore a natural chemical balance in our bodies.
You know how it feels when you don’t get enough sleep? Contrast that with how you feel when you get a great night’s sleep.
Sleep is as vital as food and oxygen for life and good health.
So how can we get better sleep? First look at your pre-bedtime habits. There are a number of things that can thwart our natural sleep cues (such as binge-watching television or endlessly scrolling social media).
Does the room temperature make a difference in our sleep? Is there a bedtime that’s best for adults? If you take a nap, does it ruin your night’s sleep? Is it bad if you snore?
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Alan Kominsky MD, FACS, uncover the truth about sleep, including how we end up derailing our natural sleepiness and how to get better rest.
Guest
- Alan Kominsky, MD, FACS - Double board-certified in otolaryngology and sleep medicine; Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic; Head & Neck Institute Residency Program Director and Head, Section of Surgical Sleep & Snoring.
Additional resources * 8 ways to get a good night’s sleep while springing ahead * Can’t sleep? Try this. * How to help someone who snores * Why cancer and trouble sleeping go hand-in-hand * How sleep affects your heart * Poor sleep is messing with your mental health * Weighing in on weighted blankets — do they really work? * Dos and don’ts for a good night’s sleep * How can lack of sleep affect your health? * Get your kids to bed at a decent hour * Sleeping for two: Moms-to-be get your zzz’s * How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? * Common Signs of Sleep Disorders * Eight Tips for Better Sleep * Learn more about Edward-Elmhurst Health Sleep Centers.
It’s not addictive and it won’t get you high. Experts are still trying to understand exactly how it works.
So, what is cannabidiol? Is it safe?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical extracted from a cannabis plant. It’s primarily available as an unregulated supplement. You can get it in capsules, oils, topicals and food. You can even vape it.
There is a small amount of quality medical research on CBD. Some studies have found that CBD combined with THC can be effective for some types of chronic pain. Other studies found topical CBD on its own can help ease joint pain. Early study results also find CBD might help reduce anxiety and help you sleep.
However, questions remain about its effectiveness.
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP, dig into details on cannabidiol, how it works and whether it could be beneficial to your health.
Guest
- Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP - Licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in counseling psychology and master addiction counselor; owner and founder of Bridge Forward Group, LLC; host of the “Let’s Talk” webcast on LinkedIn.
Additional resources * CBD oil: What is it and how does it work? * Do you need supplements? * Marijuana: a gateway drug that keeps growing stronger * Gummy bears incident abrupt reminder of marijuana dangers * How will legalizing pot affect the health of our communities? * At Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, we treat the whole person—physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Learn more.
Who isn’t feeling stressed out these days?
Everyone is busy, a situation that has been complicated by more than a year of living through a worldwide pandemic.
And while some realize mental strain can lead to physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, many don’t know that taking a moment to intentionally pause the bustle of daily life through meditation can help them feel better, emotionally and physically.
Studies show mindfulness meditation can reduce pain up to 90 percent. And meditation is easier to do than most people think.
It’s the art of attention. It’s the art of not-doing. It’s focusing on awareness, presence. Taking time to tune in to your body, thoughts and feelings.
Intrigued? Wondering how to try it?
In this episode, host Mark Gomez, MD, and his guest, Todd Fink, CADC, break down some common misconceptions about meditation, and explain how it’s good for well-being and how to get started with your own practice.
Guest
Todd Fink, CADC - Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, artist and TEDx speaker, host of The Kind Mind podcast.
Resources: * Meditation isn't just mystical nonsense * How yoga can help your heart * Mindfulness: A powerful tool for addiction recovery * Bringing mindfulness to the dinner table * Mindfulness tools for everyday life * At Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, we treat the whole person—physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Learn more.
If you could get fit with just 30 minutes of work per day, would you go for it?
Is that even possible?
The answer depends on your personal definition of fitness. Your goal dictates the amount of work required.
And that hinges on how much time you have to spend on personal fitness. If you can carve out 30 minutes for a workout (even breaking that up into 10-minute segments throughout the day) is that enough to get you feeling fit?
The good news: short 30-minute workouts can improve your fitness (you could even get fabulously fit)!
In this episode, Dr. G and his guests, physical therapist Luke Greenwell and fitness instructor Paula McBride, discuss how to get started, digging into the details with workout tips and ideas and advice on how to set a fitness goal.
Guests:
- Luke Greenwell, PT, DPT, CSMT, CSCS – Owner, RecoverRx Physical Therapy, LLC.
- Paula McBride – Fitness instructor, personal trainer, group exercise coordinator, Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness.
Resources:
This is your cold-weather workout plan
7 ways to make this your summer of fitness
10 best exercises for senior adults
Working stiff: how to keep moving all day
Think water for your workouts
How to deal with heat and humidity during outdoor workouts
Stronger heart, stronger relationship
Break outside over spring break!
The trick to avoiding weekend warrior injuries
How to motivate yourself to exercise
5 common injuries to avoid as you start running season
4 must-haves for an effective workout
5 fitness myths debunked
What’s HIIT all about?
Let’s dance the stress away
How long should you work out?
Can you change your fitness age?
Walking 10,000 steps a day: is it worth it?
As medically-based fitness centers, the focus of Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness is to help you integrate fitness—a key component of health and wellness—into your lifestyle. Learn more about Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness.
Social media use has exploded in the last decade, fundamentally changing our way of life. And when it comes to the impact of social media on our kids’ health, we may be facing the most important challenge yet.
Screen time and social media has become an integral part of our new normal during the pandemic. Kids are using it at younger ages for school and to stay in touch with friends.
Social media is here to stay, along with the influencers, likes, sexting and the fear of missing out it can inspire.
Are there benefits to kids using social media? Does it encourage risky behavior? How does it affect mental health?
What can parents do to set their kids up for safety and success?
In this episode, Dr. G and his guests, Steven Kovar, MD, and Meghan Kennedy, PsyD, discuss those questions and more.
Guests
Steven Kovar, MD – Board-certified pediatrician, Kids First Pediatrics, LTD; Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Edward Hospital.
Meghan Kennedy, PsyD – Licensed clinical psychologist, Linden Oaks Medical Group, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
Resources:
Do you need a social media break?
Beauty in the eye of a photo editor?
What is too much screen time doing to our kids' mental health?
What to do if your teen is being cyberbullied
Is your child depressed? A yearly screening can help
Your teen’s brain has some growing up to do
Cyberbullying: Know the signs and how to keep your teen cyber-safe
Video game addiction: not all fun and games
Give your family screen time breaks this winter
Six Tips to Manage Your Child’s Screen Time
At Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, we treat the whole person—physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Learn what to expect.
Find the right board-certified pediatrician or family medicine physician for your child.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle is important for many reasons, not the least of which is diabetes.
We know you’ve heard it before: eat healthy and exercise. But these are two primary ways to protect yourself against diabetes.
Diabetes is a journey. And for most adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the journey began years earlier than diagnosis.
Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s ability to remove sugar from your blood.
There are some telltale symptoms, but by the time most people take note of them, the disease is more advanced. Picking up on the warning signs of diabetes earlier with annual screening, before it causes symptoms, can give people facing Type 2 diabetes a chance to reverse the damage to their body from years of sedentary habits and unhealthy food choices.
If your parents or other family members had diabetes, will you end up with it, too? What are the symptoms of diabetes? Does stress or anxiety make diabetes worse? What about COVID-19?
In this episode, Dr. G and his guest, Susan Hudec, MD, discuss the answers to those questions, ways to prevent diabetes, the latest treatment options and more.
Guest
Susan Hudec, MD – Board-certified endocrinologist at Elmhurst Clinic.
Resources:
7 signs you might have diabetes
You have prediabetes -- can you fix it?
What is metabolic syndrome (and could you have it)?
What’s involved in a glucose tolerance test?
Don’t ignore these chronic conditions — especially now
What should people with diabetes know about COVID-19?
Diabetes clinic gives patients control over disease
Free program helps head off diabetes for those at high risk
Montgomery teen takes on type 1 diabetes
Managing diabetes during cancer treatment
How controlling your blood sugar benefits your heart
The truth about gestational diabetes
Top Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Understanding Prediabetes and How to Prevent it
Seven Factors to Know When Managing Diabetes
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
Push through the pain or avoid making it worse?
From professional athletes to weekend warriors, this is a question almost everyone faces at some point. It’s not easy for people who aren’t medically trained to determine how to treat their injury.
Athletes face added pressure to push through the pain and support their team. Nobody wants to spend months nursing an injury.
Unfortunately for those looking for a quick fix, there really isn’t one when it comes to orthopedic injuries. Listening to your body, and not ignoring pain when it occurs, is essential.
Is it a good idea for kids to focus on one sport year-round, or cross-train with different seasonal sports?
What sport leads to the most injuries?
Is physical therapy worth the effort?
In this episode, Dr. G and his guests, Ryan Sullivan, MD, and Matthew Schmitz, MD, discuss the answers to those questions and more.
Guests
Ryan Sullivan, MD, FAAOS - Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Hip & Knee Replacement/Revision Specialist, Edward-Elmhurst Orthopedic Medical Group.
Matthew Schmitz, MD, FAAOS, FAOA, FAAP - Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Chairman of the Department of Orthopedics, San Antonio Military Medical Center and Team Physician, US National Rugby Team.
Resources:
This is how you get carpal tunnel syndrome
Will your back pain just go away?
How to deal with sciatica pain
Is your smartphone a pain in the thumb?
Green, yellow, orange—how a stoplight is helping ortho patients manage pain
Reducing the risk of injury in high school athletes
5 common injuries to avoid as you start running season
5 steps to prevent running injuries
How to know if it’s rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia
Stiff joints? Why you should keep moving with arthritis
Living with chronic pain; is joint replacement worth it?
Hip, hip hooray for options in joint replacement
Hip replacement patient walks out of Elmhurst Hospital hours after surgery
Oak Brook man wake surfs one year after spine surgery
“You truly gave me back my life,” patient tells surgeon after hip replacement
Living with an aching back or a painful ankle injury is difficult — but you have options to feel like yourself again. Learn more about the Edward-Elmhurst Health Orthopedic Center.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
We want to hear from our listeners—you!
Submit your healthy OH-YEAH!
Can vitamins, minerals and supplements improve your health? Does complementary and alternative medicine help cure disease? Why do so many western healthcare providers feel uncomfortable recommending alternative medicine to their patients?
More than half of adults in the U.S. have reported using supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.). Are multivitamins good (or necessary) for you?
Integrative medicine practices such as meditation and herbal treatments are becoming more mainstream, but how much (and who) do they help?
With a dizzying array of dietary supplements to choose from, figuring out what works and what’s safe can be daunting. Is it even worth researching?
Of course, supplements are not magic pills. No one thing will lead to your healthiest life — that takes a mix of healthy mental, physical and spiritual lifestyle choices.
But there is a place in a healthy lifestyle for supplements and alternative medicine.
In this episode, Dr. G and his guests, Julia Afridi, DO, and Ashwani Garg, MD, will discuss common herbal remedies, dietary supplements and alternative treatments and provide insight on how they can support wellness.
Guests
Julia Afridi, DO - Double board-certified in family medicine and integrative holistic medicine, medical director of Integrative Medicine, Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group.
Ashwani Garg, MD - Double board-certified in family medicine and lifestyle medicine, medical director of the Physicians Assistant Program at North Central College and member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Resources:
What vitamins do you need?
Can acupuncture help me get pregnant?
Acupuncture to relax and de-stress
Help fight inflammation with these foods
Do you need to take probiotics?
5 things to know about dietary supplements and cancer treatment
Does vitamin D lower my breast cancer risk?
What does vitamin D really do for us?
The secret to buying organic vs non-organic foods
Do you need supplements?
Feel your best every day. Learn more about the Integrative Medicine Clinic at Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
We want to hear from our listeners—you!
Submit your healthy OH-YEAH!
Can vitamins, minerals and supplements improve your health? Does complementary and alternative medicine help cure disease? Why do so many western healthcare providers feel uncomfortable recommending alternative medicine to their patients?
More than half of adults in the U.S. have reported using supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.). Are multivitamins good (or necessary) for you?
Integrative medicine practices such as meditation and herbal treatments are becoming more mainstream, but how much (and who) do they help?
With a dizzying array of dietary supplements to choose from, figuring out what works and what’s safe can be daunting. Is it even worth researching?
Of course, supplements are not magic pills. No one thing will lead to your healthiest life — that takes a mix of healthy mental, physical and spiritual lifestyle choices.
But there is a place in a healthy lifestyle for supplements and alternative medicine. In this episode, Dr. G and his guests, Julia Afridi, DO, and Ashwani Garg, MD, will discuss common herbal remedies, dietary supplements and alternative treatments and provide insight on how they can support wellness.
Guests
Julia Afridi, DO - Double board-certified in family medicine and integrative holistic medicine, medical director of Integrative Medicine, Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group.
Ashwani Garg, MD - Double board-certified in family medicine and lifestyle medicine, medical director of the Physicians Assistant Program at North Central College and member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Resources:
What vitamins do you need?
Can acupuncture help me get pregnant?
Acupuncture to relax and de-stress
Help fight inflammation with these foods
Do you need to take probiotics?
5 things to know about dietary supplements and cancer treatment
Does vitamin D lower my breast cancer risk?
What does vitamin D really do for us?
The secret to buying organic vs non-organic foods
Do you need supplements?
Feel your best every day. Learn more about the Integrative Medicine Clinic at Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
We want to hear from our listeners—you!
Submit your healthy OH-YEAH!
In this episode, Dr. G is joined by Kate Johnson, MD, assistant professor and board-certified psychiatrist at Loyola University Medical Center, and Daryl Wilson, MD, board-certified emergency medicine physician at Edward-Elmhurst Health, to discuss the hidden health dangers of loneliness and isolation.
Can feelings of loneliness lead to mental or physical health problems?
Social connection is a basic human need and it’s important to explore its natural (sometimes complicated) link to good health. What people have experienced during the coronavirus pandemic has really underscored how much people need each other.
Humans have an inherent need for meaningful human connection—it’s as important as food, water and shelter. Isolation can not only lead to mental illness such as depression, it can manifest in physical illness such as heart disease.
Can isolation or loneliness lead to illness? What’s a healthy way to cope with loneliness? Fortunately, humans are resourceful. People can find creative ways to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation and maintain a healthy mind-body connection.
Guests
Kate Johnson, MD - assistant professor and board-certified psychiatrist, Loyola University Medical Center.
Daryl Wilson, MD - board-certified emergency medicine physician, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Resources:
How to combat loneliness and protect your health
Depression can take a toll on your body, too
Never a reason: talking with your teen about depression
Depression doesn’t discriminate
Is depression a normal part of getting older?
Laughter as medicine
How to cope with COVID-19 until you get the vaccine
Are you socially well?
Get social new moms. It’s for your own good.
Do you need a social media break?
How introverts and extroverts are handling the pandemic
The first step to feeling better is identifying the problem. Linden Oaks Behavioral Health can help.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
In this episode, Dr. G is joined by Kimberley Darey, MD, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, and Chief Medical Officer at Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, IL; and Syeachia Dennis, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Community Medicine Curriculum Director at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, to discuss health issues women would rather avoid talking about.
Can women prevent breast cancer? How can you tell if you’re having a heart attack? If you’re pregnant, should you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Can you breastfeed if you’ve had a beer? When will the hot flashes END?
It’s not weird to have questions about sex, aging or symptoms you’ve never felt before. Women have unique health needs but they’re often busy with family and career, and tend to skimp on personal wellness to focus on caring for others, so they don’t ask. Dr. G and his guests want women to feel empowered to be their own health advocate and ask their doctors those important questions.
Women: invest in your health. Your family and loved ones depend on you, so the gift you give them is your own good health.
Guests
Kimberley Darey, MD, FACOG - Board-Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist; Chief Medical Officer, Elmhurst Hospital, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Syeachia Dennis, MD, MPH, FAAFP - Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine; Community Medicine Curriculum Director; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Resources:
When should I get a mammogram?
Top 10 reasons women avoid mammograms, and facts to change your mind
My Pap test came back abnormal. Should I be worried?
Fact or fiction: 10 misconceptions about the HPV vaccine
10 questions women should ask about heart disease and stroke
Heart attack signs in women
Choose the right plant-based diet for your heart
What’s normal during pregnancy
Tips to stay healthy during pregnancy
Hot flashes anyone? Answers to your questions about menopause
Your baby, your way. Learn more about our Family Birthing Centers.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
Drive your health forward at Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness.
In this episode, Dr. G is joined by Steven Lome, DO, double board-certified cardiovascular specialist, and Todd Fink, CADC, certified alcohol and drug counselor at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, to discuss the fundamentals of healthy living.
What is the secret of a healthy life? Good health has many facets, and they’re all important. Regular exercise, food choices, mindfulness and spirituality are just the tip of the iceberg. The first step to better health? Making the choice to start the transformation.
But where (and how) to begin pursuit of a healthy lifestyle? Start small. No one can transform their health overnight, and that’s okay. It’s a lifelong process that involves failure, learning and commitment.
How can we boost our immune system? How much exercise do we really need? How can we tell whether we’re stressed? Is spirituality the same as religion (and why is it relevant to health)? Dr. G’s experts tackle these questions and share some tips to help you set yourself up for success.
Are you ready to transform your body, mind and spirit?
Guests
Steven Lome, DO - Double board-certified Cardiovascular Disease and Lifestyle Medicine Specialist, Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula.
Todd Fink, CADC - Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, artist and TEDx speaker.
Resources
7 ways to make friends with your worries
Are you socially well?
Choose the right plant-based diet for your heart
What’s so bad about the white stuff?
Working stiff: how to keep moving all day
When it comes to fitness, baby steps are best
Start your path to recovery today. Learn more about Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.
Make wellness a priority. Find the right primary care doctor for you.
Drive your health forward at Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness.
Health 360 with Dr. G is a new podcast featuring conversations with health experts that aims to inform and inspire a healthy lifestyle. During each episode, Dr. G, a board-certified internal medicine physician with Edward-Elmhurst Health and his guests take the complex topics and break them down into simpler terms. From physical health to mental health, Dr. G digs into every angle to explain tough topics and inspire healthier living.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when a new episode drops at www.Health360Podcast.com.