Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials Podcast

Mild, moderate or severe erectile dysfunction affects more than 50% of American men between age 40 and 70. Although frequently associated with aging, the condition can also be caused by numerous diseases and conditions, as well as certain medications and surgeries. Lawrence Hakim, MD discusses symptoms and diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, as well as the range of medical and surgical treatments available for the condition.

Your kids have more screen time than you might think, between watching their favorite movies on TV, playing online games with friends, attending virtual school on their computer, or chatting on their phones. However, too much screen time can affect kids’ health, particularly by affecting their sleep. Noah Schwartz, MD discusses the impact of screen time on kids, how much screen time is recommended, and how and when to introduce screen time limits.

If you find that your brain starts revving up as soon as your head hits the pillow, or you’re prone to tossing and turning at night, you’re not alone. Certain health conditions, as well as factors such as stress and anxiety, can impact the quality of your sleep. However, there are tools available that can help you sleep better—and fall asleep faster. Cleveland Clinic sleep disorders specialist Michelle Drerup, PsyD discusses why we have trouble sleeping, tools and techniques to make your bedtime routine smoother, and easy lifestyle changes that can lead to better rest.

It’s that time of year, when your eyes water and your nose runs. But what’s happening in your body when your allergies act up? What are you actually allergic to? And most importantly, how can you get a handle on your symptoms so you can just enjoy the season? Allergist Mark Aronica, MD, delves deeper into how to best keep your allergies at bay.

Sometimes the foods we love don’t love us back. But when you experience gastrointestinal issues, it can be tough to figure out which foods are causing your symptoms. Registered dietitian Sharon Jaeger, RD, explains the process of an elimination diet and how it can help identify the culprit of your concerns.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can encompass difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, delayed or absence of language development, or poor motor coordination. Behavior analyst Chiara Graver, M.A., BCBA , COBA discusses questions you might have about autism spectrum disorder in children, including signs to look out for, how to get a diagnosis and available therapies.

Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy can have a significant impact on your daily life. One way to figure out what’s causing your sleep disruption—and determine the best treatment—is by having a sleep study. Sleep medicine specialist Nancy Foldvary, DO, MS discusses what to expect from a sleep study, how you know you need one, and what the results can tell you.

Donating an organ to a person in need can save their life. Living organ donation often allows the life-saving gift to happen faster. David Kwon, MD, PhD, joins us to talk about laparoscopic living donor surgery — specifically for liver transplants — and how this approach to organ donation impacts the lives of both donors and recipients.

Going to work every day in a hostile environment can be harmful to your mental and emotional health, which can, in turn, even lead to physical symptoms. Psychologist Chivonna Childs, PhD, talks about the signs of a toxic workplace and what you can do if you’re experiencing one.

Lead poisoning might not be something you think about regularly. However, it’s important to know about the risks around you. Lead can be found in your environment, in certain products or in your workplace. Pediatrician Roopa Thakur joins us to talk about why lead is dangerous and ways to prevent lead poisoning in our children.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. That’s why regular screenings are so important: Early detection of any problems, including potentially cancerous polyps, is vital. However, with so many screening choices available—including colonoscopies and at-home tests—which is best? Arielle Kanters, MD takes you through the various colorectal cancer screening options and shares what you can expect.

What does cholesterol do? What’s the difference between good and bad cholesterol? And importantly, what can you do to try to lower your cholesterol? Cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD, tells you what you need to know about cholesterol, including what it is, why it matters so much and how you can naturally lower yours through diet, exercise, stress management and more.

TikTok is great for content related to choreography, cooking and cats… but what about health advice? Every week, a new viral health trend seems to make headlines, as influencers share so-called hacks to cure what ails you. Ear, nose and throat specialist Raj Sindwani, MD, weighs in on some of the most popular — and, in some cases, most dangerous — TikTok trends.

Early in your baby’s life, there aren’t many activities you can do together. It’s all about changing diapers, figuring out feeding patterns and learning sleep schedules. One activity that you can do together is tummy time. We’re joined by pediatrician Matthew Badgett to learn what tummy time is, how often you should do it and how this activity helps your baby develop new skills.

American women are waiting longer than ever to have children, and many now choose to freeze their eggs during their most fertile years in the hopes of improving their chances of getting pregnant later in life. Reproductive endocrinologist Stephen B. Mooney explains the ins and outs of the process and what to expect.

If you’re feeling exhausted and sluggish, and even simple tasks feel overwhelming to complete—or you find yourself so stressed out that you’re quick to get angry or frustrated—you might be experiencing burnout. While frequently associated with a stressful job, burnout can affect many areas of your life and even cause health problems. Dr. Borland discusses the major symptoms of burnout, and provides some tips on how to both deal with this condition.

During the holiday season, it’s understandable that you might overindulge on unhealthy food or get off track with your usual routines. That’s why so many of us see a new year as a chance to adopt healthier habits and diets. Dietitian Maxine Smith explains how mindful eating can help us reassess our lives and revisit our usual routines—or make new ones—in a thoughtful way.

Hearing your child’s first words can be exciting. But what happens when there’s a delay with those words? Speech delays can happen for a variety of reasons and each child’s experience is often unique. Speech language pathologist Kelly Wilber joins us to talk about the signs of a speech delay as well as treatment options to get your child back on track.

Childbirth is a life-changing experience. It’s the final step in a long journey that ends with you holding your little one for the first time. But before you meet your baby, you might have a few questions about what labor and childbirth are really like. OBGYN Salena Zanotti joins us to talk about what happens to your body during labor, birth plans and how much labor hurts.

Loss can be one of the hardest parts of life. It’s a shared experience that we each go through in our own personal way. You might feel you’ve journeyed through your grief and reached a good place just to have a smell or sound send you right back to step one. Reverend Amy Greene, DMin, MDiv, joins us to talk about grief, its stages and ways to find joy as you embark on your journey after loss.

Throughout the pandemic, many of our best parenting routines were disrupted. Screen time increased, bedtime became negotiable and our typical routines were shaken up. Child psychologist Kate Eshleman, PsyD, talks about why routines are important and ways to get them back on track.

Frozen shoulder describes a condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. This condition can develop for many reasons, but it is very painful and can have a serious impact on your daily life. Luckily, with physical therapy, exercise and other interventions, frozen shoulder is very treatable. Orthopaedic sports medicine specialist Dr. Vikas Patel explains about what causes this condition —and the best ways to approach treatment.

Do you find yourself listing “stressed out” as one of your main feelings during the holidays? You’re not alone. Many people experience stress during the holidays. It can be hard to deal with the stress of large family gatherings – especially if it’s your first big holiday since the start of the pandemic – and crafting the picture perfect celebration. Psychologist Matthew Sacco, PhD joins us to talk stress management and help us find ways to have a happy holiday season.

Maintaining quality of life during a serious illness—or planning for end of life care—can be a tough emotional journey. This holds true whether this care is for yourself or a loved one. Luckily, there are healthcare professionals with experience helping people navigate this journey every step of the way. Laura Hoeksema, MD discusses what you can expect from hospice and palliative care—and why both kinds of care provide such comfort.

When your child tells you they have chest pain, this can sometimes signal problems with their heart. However, most discomfort felt by kids isn’t caused by a serious condition. Pediatric cardiologist Francine Erenberg, MD, discusses the reasons your child might be feeling chest pain—and how to tell when it’s time to worry.

The link between what we eat and how we feel is strong. Many big emotional moments in our lives are paired with certain foods. We reach for our favorite treats for comfort and celebration. But what happens when you find yourself routinely turning to food as a coping mechanism? We talk to psychologist Susan Albers-Bowling, PsyD, about what emotional eating is, how to recognize it and ways to manage it.

Cleveland Clinic is in the early stages of a trial that will look at a preventative breast cancer vaccine. Here to talk about the vaccine is Thomas Budd, MD. The principal investigator on the trial, Budd explains how this vaccine could work, the type of breast cancer this trial is targeting and the timeline for the vaccine’s development.

The pelvic floor is a group of stabilizing and supportive muscles found at the base of your pelvis. When these muscles become weak or tight, health issues can follow. Physical therapist Melissa Dubrow, DPT, shares the importance of maintaining pelvic health, including the causes and signs of pelvic floor disorders, and what pelvic health rehab entails.

Your immune system keeps you healthy by protecting you from disease—or, if you do get sick, helping you fight off illness. That’s one major reason building a strong immune system is so important. Cleveland Clinic physician Neha Vyas, MD, shares tips on how you can stay healthy—and the best steps to take for a speedy recovery if you do get sick.

Some conversations can be challenging. How do you start? What do you say? It can be hard to find the words – especially when you’re trying to talk about medical conditions. When a friend or family member is diagnosed with cancer, it can be difficult to talk about the diagnosis with kids. Child psychologist Kate Eshleman, PsyD, talks about ways to start this conversation and tips for talking to your kids about cancer.

There’s lots of information out there about what pregnant people should and shouldn’t do — but what if you’re trying to conceive? From vitamins to diet to genetic considerations, reproductive endocrinologist Stephen B. Mooney. MD talks about what you need to know to best prepare yourself and your body for conception and pregnancy.

It can be difficult to stick to a routine – especially when it involves taking time for yourself. However, self-care is an important part of a balanced life. Psychologist Matthew Sacco, PhD, talks about how to start a self-care routine that works for you and what to do if you need to re-start a routine after a lapse.

It’s well known that exercise is an important way to keep your heart healthy. But how does this apply to children? Pediatric cardiologist Kenneth Zahka, MD, talks about the importance of exercise throughout childhood and how activity is a part of a child’s heart health.

As summer winds down, cases of COVID-19 are surging in various parts of the U.S., causing concern to medical professionals. Thaddeus Stappenbeck, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute shares what you should know about the state of coronavirus vaccinations, including booster shots and FDA approvals, as well as how to best protect yourselves and loved ones as virus season approaches.

Concerns about weight and body image can be common, but what happens when these worries develop into something more? Learn about the various types of eating disorders, their causes and a few signs of these conditions during a conversation with psychologist Dr. Susan Albers.

How can the food we eat — and the foods we don’t eat — soothe or prevent inflammation in the body? Registered dietician Julia Zumpano explains the health benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, including which foods can have a direct impact on pain, who should try this style of eating and how to decide which anti-inflammatory diet is right for you.

From runny noses and watery eyes to trouble breathing, the symptoms of allergies and asthma can disrupt daily life. Allergist/immunologist Jaclyn Bjelac, MD, talks about the signs of allergies and asthma in children. Learn about ways to spot these conditions in your children, as well as treatment options.

This year’s Olympics brought more headlines than ever about the need for athletes — from the extracurricular to the elite — to tend to their mental health as carefully as they tend to their physical health. Sports psychologist Matthew Sacco, PhD, talks about the specific mental health concerns athletes face as early as childhood, and how sports fans, parents and coaches alike can play a role in supporting their wellness.

Nearly everyone has experienced emotional distress after a traumatic event — but not everyone who experiences trauma develops post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologist Chivonna Childs, PhD, talks about the ways that standard responses to trauma differ from clinical PTSD, and how those living with PTSD can identify and manage their disorder to ease the long-lasting impact of trauma.

A congenital heart defect is a medical condition that a child has at birth. Pediatric cardiologist Bradley Marino, MD, discusses what it means to have a congenital heart defect, treatment options and ways to talk to your child about their heart.

For many kids, summer is a great time to get outside and have fun. However, it’s important to remember certain safety tips throughout these hot months in the sun. Pediatrician Paula Sabella, MD, discusses ways to avoid dehydration, tips on protection from the sun and ways to care for bites and bruises.

Feeling anxious, stressed or unable to focus? Take a look around you. Clutter, mess or an untidy work area can make some people feel overwhelmed. In fact, research shows that cleaning (or a lack of cleaning) can have an impact on your mental health. Clinical psychologist, Dawn Potter, PsyD, discusses tips for decluttering, how mess can contribute to depression and tension and hoarding disorder.

Children and teens often don’t recognize their anxiety for what it is. Instead, they may feel out of control or like something is wrong with them. But anxiety in kids goes beyond the physical symptoms. Learning how to recognize their anxiety and triggers is an important development skill your child will need to learn. In this episode, psychologist Ethan Benore, PhD, shares insight about helping your anxious child learn to cope, strategies for dealing with difficult emotions and how to increase their self-awareness.

Whether you’re currently living with lupus or caring for someone who is, this disease can sometimes feel unpredictable. Rheumatologist Emily Littlejohn, DO, explains lupus triggers and how to manage flare-ups. She also chats about common treatments, the average timeline for finding a diagnosis and ways to find support.

Seated yoga or chair yoga is a general term for practices that modify poses to be inclusive. This practice is also called wellness yoga, as it reminds the participant to stop, stretch and reconnect. Wellness yoga requires very little time, room and can be done at home or in the office. In this episode, certified yoga therapist, Judi Bar, explains the benefits of yoga, then leads listeners through a 10-minute wellness yoga demonstration.

Until recently, the COVID-19 vaccination roll out has focused on adults. However, the newest group to become eligible for the vaccine includes children ages 12 and up. Pediatrician, Kimberly Giuliano, MD, explains the pros of vaccinating this population of youngsters. She also dispels common myths about the vaccine in children, as well as ways to prepare your child for their vaccine.

It’s been over a year since we first learned about COVID-19, and although we are still far from the end of the pandemic, there is reason for hope. Infectious disease expert, Frank Esper, MD, takes a look at where we are now and what needs to happen next. He chats about herd immunity as a moving target, current vaccination rates, vaccine hesitancy and the latest findings about variants and mutations.

In this episode, Ob/Gyn Oluwatosin Goje, MD, talks about getting the COVID-19 vaccine while you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. She discusses the latest research and findings, as well as what factors you need to consider. Learn more about the vaccine when it comes to fertility, ovulation, miscarriage and timing.

Feel like your social skills are rusty? If so, you’re not alone. As pandemic restrictions loosen and more people become vaccinated, many are feeling anxious about re-entering society. After all, we’ve spent the last year in quarantine, communicating with others through a screen or from behind a face mask. Clinical psychologist, Dawn Potter, PsyD, shares practical advice for those feeling nervous about a return to normal in a post-pandemic world.

Chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life, but some pain suffers find that certain lifestyle changes can minimize some of the discomfort. Osteopathic physician William Welches, DO, PhD, talks about several adjustments and therapies to address your pain. From acupuncture, to tips about sleep and nutrition – this episode walks you through a holistic approach to managing chronic pain.