Health Matters

February is American Heart Month. When's the last time you measured your blood pressure? Do you know what "good" blood pressure even is? Or what about "good" cholesterol?Brush up on the fundamentals – and get some clear guidelines for keeping tabs on your heart health - from Dr. Marc Eisenberg, a cardiologist from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia.Click here for the episode transcript.

Are those chest pains signs of a heart attack…or a broken heart? Can a broken heart send you to the hospital? Broken Heart Syndrome is a real cardiac event brought on by an intense emotional reaction to life events. In honor of Valentine’s Day, our host Faith speaks with Dr. Joy Gelbman, cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about how the heart is a physical and emotional center of our body.Click here for the episode transcript.

Have you kept up with your new year's resolutions? Dr. Jennifer Cruz, a clinical psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discusses how to manage and maintain realistic goals. Dr. Cruz shares her perspective on setting goals, how to make them more achievable, and why you deserve credit — even when you feel like you’ve fallen short.Click here for the episode transcript.

Many people started off the new year committing to a dry January. But what happens once the month is over? How should we approach alcohol in February and beyond? Whether you're having a dry January or a damp January, Dr. Robert Brown, the chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explains why being mindful of our alcohol consumption has many health benefits, and how we can sustain it.Click here for the episode transcript.

It’s that time of year again - cold season. While sniffles and congestion are a hallmark of winter, there are a few respiratory viruses that can be far more serious. In this episode, Dr. Harjot Singh, an epidemiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explains why we’re more likely to get sick during the colder months and how to protect ourselves from the three major illnesses - COVID-19, the flu and RSV – that pose the biggest threat this time of year. Click here for the episode transcript.

For National Blood Donor Month, Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Stone, assistant director of transfusion medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Unprecedented blood shortages mean that the need for donated blood is as critical as ever. Dr. Stone demystifies the process of giving blood, explains blood types, and shares how both the recipient and the donor can benefit from a single donation.Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks with clinical dietitian Gabrielle Gambino, who offers advice on connecting our bodies and minds to our food choices. She explains why a rigid diet plan doesn’t work for most people, and how a mindful approach can help us be more compassionate to ourselves when it comes to what we eat. Click here for the episode transcript.

To kick off the new year, Courtney Allison speaks with sports cardiologist Dr. Sonia Tolani about how we can set ourselves up for success with our resolutions around fitness. She describes which forms of exercise are recommended for improving our long term health, why focusing on exercise is more important than focusing on weight loss, and how much it can help to bring along others on our fitness journey. Click here for the episode transcript.

We’re taking a break for the holidays. New episodes of Health Matters will return in January. For the holiday break, we are republishing one of this year’s most impactful episodes: Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. He’s also the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center, and an expert on the connections between gastrointestinal health and the other systems in our body that rely on good digestion for their function. He describes how GI diseases like Celiac have implications for mental health, and what anyone can do to support their digestive health.Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine endocrinologist Dr. Rekha Kumar, about the effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners on our health, recommendations to moderate sugar intake, and how to navigate the holiday season’s plethora of sweets and treats. Click here for the episode transcript.

For Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Faith Salie talks to Dr. Silky Pahlajani, a behavioral neurologist and neuropsychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Pahlajani describes how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, what it really means in the body, and the reasons why Alzheimer's is more significant in women than in men. They also discuss why it’s important to challenge ourselves, learn new things, and strengthen our brain health at any age. Click here for the episode transcript.

NewYork-Presbyterian Managing Editor Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Warren Ng, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, who shares the health impacts of loneliness. Dr. Ng provides ways to strengthen our connections when we’re feeling lonely and gives tips on how to navigate loneliness during the holiday season.Click here for the episode transcript.

NewYork-Presbyterian Managing Editor Courtney Allison talks to psychologist Dr. Robert Leahy from Weill Cornell Medicine. He helps define regret and dives into its many manifestations. He shows us how this messy emotion can be used, believe it or not, to our advantage. He provides insight on how to reframe regret from rumination and despair into productive ways of thinking by forming healthy habits and focusing on goals, rather than just feelings.Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host Faith Salie is joined by registered dietician Jamie Leskowitz, and endocrinologist Dr. Judith Korner, from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the highly buzzed about obesity and weight loss medications like Ozempic and WeGovy. They break down how these medications work, who benefits most from them, and the side effects to be aware of.Click here for the episode transcript.

This week, Courtney Allison speaks with sports cardiologist, Dr. Sonia Tolani, who explains how exercise changes the heart. These changes are easy to see in elite athletes, Dr. Tolani gives a behind-the-scenes look at the screening process for athletes to ensure their safety in high-level competition. She also describes how teams can prepare for emergency response, and the life-saving measures that everyone should know when it comes to caring for our hearts.Click here for episode transcript.

The immense weight of a world in crisis can feel overwhelming. In this special episode of Health Matters, we hear from three mental health experts: Drs. Elena Lister, Shannon Bennett and Warren Ng. They share guidance on how to cope with the anxiety, fear, sadness, and sense of helplessness that many of us are feeling when we witness the unfolding of tragic events. They also offer advice on how we can talk to children about difficult news. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week, our host Courtney Allison is joined by Dr. Elena Lister, a psychiatrist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine who specializes in grief. Dr. Lister discusses the importance of facing the many emotions that come with the death of a loved one or other losses. She also talks about her personal experience with grief after the death of her youngest daughter and how to find hope after loss. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Angelique Serrano, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia transplant hepatologist Dr. Alyson Fox. They talk about the differences between living donation and deceased donation, walk through the steps of preparation and recovery for organ donation and transplant, and the importance of this lifesaving gift. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Angelique Serrano, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia breast oncologist Dr. Meghna Trivedi. For Breast Cancer Awareness month, they discuss the major risk factors behind breast cancer, the most common genetic factors in cancer risk, and the kinds of prevention strategies that can limit genetic risks.

NewYork-Presbyterian Managing Editor Courtney Allison talks to psychologist Dr. Shannon Bennett about the youth mental health crisis. Dr. Bennett, also the clinical director of the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian, discusses the effects of the pandemic, social media, and climate change on youth mental health. She also provides insight on signs and symptoms, and ways to support young people.Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine endocrinologist Dr. Rekha Kumar, about the effects of caffeine on the brain and body, considerations to take when pregnant, recommendations on caffeine consumption, and if caffeine can help us live longer. Click here for the episode transcript.

Angelique Serrano speaks with Dr. Evelyn Attia, Director of the Center for Eating Disorders at NewYork-Presbyterian. They discuss the differences between healthy and unhealthy eating, how to recognize the signs of eating disorders, and what treatment options are available today. Dr. Attia offers guidelines for people of all ages who want to have a healthy relationship with food. Click here for the episode transcript.

With a new school year starting, Faith Salie speaks with child psychologist Dr. Anne Marie Albano about the signs of school avoidance. Dr. Albano gives parents and caregivers tips on how to intervene in these situations and offers adults ways to start tough conversations with their kids. Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks to Dr. Chiti Parikh, an integrative medicine practitioner and Executive Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell, about supplements and multivitamins, when to take them, how to check for quality, and what to look for on the label.

Faith Salie speaks with Dr. Alexis Halpern, an Emergency Medicine physician at NewYork-Presbyterian, about what to expect during a visit to the emergency department. Dr. Halpern talks about when to go to the ED versus an urgent care center, what information to bring for a more efficient visit, and how long patients might spend waiting throughout the process.Click here for the episode transcript.

Faiths talks to Dr. Zachary Blumkin, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to help explain ADHD. He dispels myths, explains treatments, including medication, and talks about why it’s so important to recognize and address ADHD.Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks to Dr. Carolyn Newberry, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and the director of the Gastrointestinal Nutrition Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, about the importance of fiber and why we need more of it than we may think. She also provides helpful tips on how to incorporate fiber into your diet.Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks with Dr. Avital Falk, program director of the Intensive Treatment Program for OCD and Anxiety in collaboration with the NYP Center for Youth Mental Health to help better understand intrusive thoughts. She explained what makes these thoughts so sticky, how people can manage them, and the relationship between intrusive thoughts and OCD. Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks to Dr. James Noble, a neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, about the ways we can take care of our memory and whether memory loss should be expected as we get older. Dr. Noble also breaks down the distinctions between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and explains new treatments that are available for patients. Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks to Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, an infectious disease expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about what to do if you or a loved one is bitten by a tick. She debunked some common misconceptions about tick-borne illnesses and breaks down the steps to preventing tick bites and conducting tick checks. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week, our host Faith Salie talks to Dr. Christopher Ahmad, orthopedic surgeon at New York-Presbyterian and Columbia and the team doctor for the New York Yankees, about how young athletes can protect themselves from injuries. He shared some tips for parents to help their kids stay healthy on the field — including what research has revealed about how some elite baseball players have managed to stay injury-free. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week, our host Faith Salie talks to Dr. David Majure, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, who describes the measures that promote heart health. He explains how the factors that lead to heart disease are all connected and that reducing the risks will require both individual effort to live a healthier lifestyle and systemic change to support it. Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks with Dr. Anne Marie Albano, co-clinical director for the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian and a child psychologist at Columbia. Dr. Albano describes how caregivers can foster confidence and independence in children and how to keep communication lines open when kids are processing big transitions and challenging issues. Click here for the episode transcript.

Faith Salie talks with Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist at NewYork Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about some of the most common myths about the sun and sunscreen. She gave guidance on how to choose a sunscreen that works for you and also shared helpful tips on how to gauge if a mole could be a sign of something more serious. Click here for the episode transcript.

In this episode, Faith Salie talks to Dr. Ricky Singh, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Pain Medicine at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Singh describes the common cause of neck and back issues. Whether it’s from technology use or a sports injury, Dr. Singh offers guidance for what people can do at home to reduce pain and protect neck and back health. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week we talk to a sleep medicine expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to better understand just why sleep is so vital, how to make it a top priority, and to find specific steps we can take each day for a better night’s sleep. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. He’s also the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center, and an expert on the connections between gastrointestinal health and the other systems in our body that rely on good digestion for their function. He describes how GI diseases like Celiac have implications for mental health, and what anyone can do to support their digestive health. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Yoko Furuya, the Chief Epidemiologist for NewYork-Presbyterian and infectious diseases expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. She advises current recommendations for protecting yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus, insight on how it has become endemic, and how we can be better prepared for future pandemics. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine neuropsychologist Heidi Allison Bender, about the impact of screen use of children’s health. She explained guidelines for young children under the age of 5, considerations about helping older kids and teenagers set good boundaries, and explored the implications of the latest research into social media’s influence on brain development. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Ambulatory Care Network and Columbia, about ways parents and caregivers can talk to their children about puberty and the changes that come with this stage in life. Dr. Bracho-Sanchez also discusses why puberty may be happening earlier and earlier in children. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Lauren Osborne, an OB-GYN and reproductive psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about how to protect mental health during and after pregnancy. Dr. Osborne discusses common anxiety and depression symptoms during this time and provides advice on medication and seeking support. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Michelle Loy, an integrative health specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about Blue Zones. The Blue Zones are areas of the world identified by researchers for having the highest percentage of people who have lived to 100 years old. Dr. Loy explains how understanding the diets and lifestyles of people in these Blue Zones can offer helpful guidelines for anyone who wants the way they eat to help them live a longer and healthier life. Click here for the episode transcript.

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian psychiatrist, Dr. Adrian Jacques Ambrose, about high-functioning anxiety, the sometimes crippling stress felt by high-achieving, successful individuals. They keep it together on the outside, but may be filled with self-doubt and racing thoughts on the inside. Dr. Ambrose of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia joins us to drill down into what high-functioning anxiety looks like and how to manage it. Click here for the episode transcript.

Health Matters from NewYork-Presbyterian is an essential, empowering weekly podcast on health and wellness.Health Matters provides straightforward, clear answers to everyday questions, directly from the experts at the forefront of medicine. It’s the perfect, fifteen-minute dose of info and insight for anyone looking to prioritize health and wellness for themselves and their family.Learn more at healthmatters.nyp.org.