Health Explanations for Motivated Patients: Your Checkup

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We investigate how pulse oximeters – those small devices that clip onto your finger and measure oxygen levels – can show bias against people with darker skin tones. This critical medical tool may overestimate oxygen readings in Black patients, potentially leading to delayed or inadequate treatment.

• Pulse oximeters use infra...

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Insulin resistance often precedes diabetes by 5-10 years and serves as an early warning sign of potential damage to your cardiovascular system and other organs. We explore this common condition, its risk factors, and how simple lifestyle changes can reverse it before more serious health problems develop.

• Insulin resistance ...

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Prediabetes affects over one-third of Americans, yet 80% don't know they have it. We break down what this silent condition means for your health and provide practical strategies to prevent progression to diabetes.

• Prediabetes is defined as blood sugar that's elevated but not high enough to be diabetes
• Risk f...

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We dive deep into the essential topic of skin cancer prevention and sun protection methods. As summer approaches, it's crucial to understand how to protect yourself from harmful UV rays that can lead to skin cancer, a condition that affects one in five Americans in their lifetime.

• One in five Americans will develop ski...

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Cardiorespiratory fitness might be the strongest predictor of how long you'll live, with a massive study showing fitness level may have a more significant impact than traditional risk factors like smoking or diabetes.

• Study of 122,000 people undergoing treadmill testing followed for eight years
• People with elite ...

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Safe infant sleep guidelines have reduced SIDS deaths by 50-80% over the last three decades, yet funding for this critical public health campaign is now at risk of being cut.

• Explained difference between SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and SUID (sudden unexpected infant death)
• Described the "triple risk model...

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Back pain affects 80% of people at some point in their lives, but the good news is that approximately 90% of cases improve within 6-12 weeks with proper care and movement. Understanding the causes, treatments, and prevention strategies for back pain can help you navigate this common but often debilitating condition.

• Most ba...

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• Full body MRIs cost around $2,500 and are being promoted as the "gold standard" for preventative health without proper medical context
• Unlike established screening tests, these scans haven't been evaluated by medical societies for appropriate use in healthy populations
• 15-30% of diagnostic images have at l...

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We dive deep into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), exploring its causes, symptoms, and critical treatment options for patients with diabetes and their loved ones. This episode provides essential knowledge that could potentially save lives in emergency situations.

• Hypoglycemia defined as blood sugar below 70 mg/dL, with sever...

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Managing allergic rhinitis requires realistic expectations and a strategic approach to medication. Though no treatment will completely eliminate symptoms, the right combination of therapies can significantly reduce discomfort and improve quality of life during allergy season.

• Nasal corticosteroid sprays are first-line treat...

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Allergic rhinitis affects 20% of people with substantial impact on quality of life, causing symptoms like nasal inflammation, itchy eyes, and post-nasal drip.

• Allergic rhinitis is a nasal reaction to airborne particles causing a histamine response
• Symptoms include itchy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, a...

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The meteoric rise in demand for weight loss drugs has created widespread shortages, leading to the emergence of compounding pharmacies as an alternative source for these medications.

• Compounding pharmacies create custom medications by combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to meet specific needs
• Unlike FDA-approve...

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Summary 

In this episode, Ed Delesky, MD, and Nicole Aruffo, RN, discuss the impact of GLP-1 medications on lean body mass and muscle mass during weight loss. They explore definitions of lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass, the effects of weight loss medications on muscle physiology, and strategies to preserve muscle mass through d...

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In this episode, Ed Delesky, MD, and Nicole Aruffo, RN, discuss Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), covering its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and various treatment options. They emphasize the importance of understanding IBS as a common condition affecting a significant portion of the population and provide insights into managing symptoms ...

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Depression requires a comprehensive treatment approach addressing biological, psychological, and social dimensions for true healing. We explore the three essential components of effective depression management: medication, therapy, and behavioral activation.

• Depression categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, with treatmen...

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We are offering a trigger warning for this episode as we discuss topics related to depression including suicide. Please know 988 as a phone number and a resource to get immediate help in a mental health crisis. 

Do you feel persistently sad, hopeless, or disinterested in the things you once enjoyed? This episode of Your Checkup explore...

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Stay informed and protect your family from measles! In this episode of Your Checkup, we discuss the current measles outbreak, including the situation in Texas. Learn about measles symptoms, how it spreads, and the potential complications. We emphasize the critical role of the MMR vaccine in preventing measles and discuss the importanc...

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This episode of Your Checkup examines a recent study investigating the effects of semaglutide, a medication used for weight loss, on individuals with both obesity and knee osteoarthritis. We will delve into how this trial was conducted, the key findings related to weight reduction and pain relief, and what these results might mean for...

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of health information available online? It's getting harder to tell what’s true and what’s not, especially with so much misinformation spreading like wildfire on social media and even through friends and family. This episode of "Your Checkup" will equip you with the tools ...