Your Doctor Friends

How Do I Stay Safe In The Heat? (with Josh Blomgren, DO)

IT'S HOT! This July sets record as the hottest in recorded history. Headlines are coming fast and furious recently regarding the heat waves throughout the world, including the southern United States. Temperatures have been hitting triple digits for multiple weeks in a row in places like Phoenix and Florida.

These dangerous levels of heat have led to increased rates of heat illness and even death. It’s another story of the climate affecting our health. 

What is heat illness? Why does it happen? Who is at risk? And ultimately what you should do if you find yourself in a place with a dangerous heat warning?

LET'S ASK AN EXPERT!

Our expert today is Josh Blomgren, DO!

• Dr. Blomgren is our friend and colleague, a Sports Medicine Physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush for close to 15 years.
• He is the Chief Medical Officer for the Chicago Red Stars as well as team physician for Willowbrook High School.
• Perintent to today’s topic, Josh has volunteered annually since 2007 at the Chicago Marathon overseeing the medical tents that are responsible for over 40,000 runners each year, a percentage of which will experience heat illness, our topic today!

LET'S DIVE IN, SHALL WE??

Key highlights in this episode include:

What's the basic physiology behind heat illness?

What are the most common symptoms people develop with heat illness?

How can you tell if someone may be suffering from heat illness?

How hot is too hot? At what temperature should we be cancelling events?

Do different activities have different risks in the heat?

What goes into calculating the "heat index"?

What is a wet bulb globe temperature?

Who is the most at risk for heat illness?

How can you cool someone down most effectively?

Dr. Blomgren recommends the following resources to learn about heat illness:

Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including: "Climatic Heat Stress and Exercising Children and Adolescents"

"Top Safety Tips for Preventing Heat, Sun-Related Illnesses in Children this Summer"

"Extreme Heat: Keeping Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar".

The Korey Stringer Institute- information on "heat illnesses".

Cooling Centers by State- by the National Center for Healthy Housing.

Chicago Cooling Centers.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Does My BMI Matter? (with Ragen Chastain)

Size matters, right? In our formative years, we likely heard (directly and indirectly) from the media, in advertising, from teachers and leaders, from doctors, and likely our parents and our peers that the size and shape of our body matters.

It matters socially, and it matters for our health. That’s the truth, right??

So how can I know if my body is the “correct” size? The American medical industry began to use BMI, or body mass index, more consistently in the 1980s, and curiously changed the cutoffs of what was considered “normal” abruptly in 1998.  Overnight, this action changed about 25 million Americans from a category of “normal” to overweight. 

So what’s the science behind it? Where did this measurement come from? Why should we care about it?

Is it helpful to put our bodies in “categories”? Do these categorizations actually help us understand and ultimately prevent disease? Are there other ways of assessing our health that could be more reliable and beneficial?

Thankfully, meaningful research exists to provide helpful data on how to navigate these questions. AND BOY, DO WE HAVE THE EXPERT FOR IT! 

Ragen Chastain is a speaker, writer, researcher, Board Certified Patient Advocate, multi-certified health and fitness professional, and thought leader in weight science, weight stigma, and healthcare. Utilizing her background in research methods and statistics, Ragen has brought her signature mix of humor and hard facts to healthcare, corporate, conference, and college audiences.

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER WITH US!

Topics in this episode include:

Where did the BMI calculation come from?

What about kids? How are kids BMIs measured?

Why did BMI cutoffs abruptly change in 1998?

How can the BMI cutoffs create situations where people can be vulnerable to discrimination?

What is the "success rate" (according to research) for attempting intentional weight loss?

What is "weight cycling"? How is it harmful?

Other than body shape/size/fat percentage - what other measures of health have been studied that are good (maybe better) predictors of disease risk?

What is the new “clarifying” policy the AMA adopted recently to address the role of BMI in medicine?

Ragen has a Substack titled "Weight and Healthcare". Check it out!

Ragen recommends the HAES (Health At Every Size) Health Sheets for a great comprehensive, evidence-based resource.

Her Instagram handle is @ragenchastain, and her Twitter handle is @danceswithfat

Ragen also recommends the following resources:

NAAFA- The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (@naafaofficial on IG)

FLARE- Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, and Education (@flareforjustice on IG)

Dove's work to end body size discrimination.

Matheson, et al research- "Healthy lifestyle habits and mortality in overweight and obese individuals."

Gaesser and Angadi's research, "Obesity treatment: Weight loss versus increasing fitness and physical activity for reducing health risks."

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Is Cold Plunging Good For My Health? (with Mike Tipton, PhD)

Have you ever TAKEN THE PLUNGE?? Cold water immersion is one of hottest trends in the health and wellness world. 

A number of theories exist re: the benefits of cold water immersion. Generally we think of recovery from exercise, muscle soreness, injuries, etc. But the recent “craze” has been due to the potential to improve depression and anxiety, boost immunity, and perhaps even extend our longevity.

But does it work? Is there data to support it??

LET'S ASK AN EXPERT!

Our expert today is Mike Tipton, PhD, FTPS!

• Dr. Tipton is a Professor of Human & Applied Physiology, Extreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport Health & Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, UK.
• He has published over 750 scientific papers, reports, chapters, abstracts and books in his research areas of drowning, thermoregulation, environmental and occupational physiology, and survival in the sea. 
• He has been a consultant in survival and thermal medicine to the Royal Air Force, UKSport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS). 
• Prof Tipton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and The Physiological Society. 
• He was awarded his MBE for services to physiological research in extreme environments; the Ireland Medal for saving lives from drowning worldwide; and the H&L Swiftwater rescue lifetime achievement award from the USA.

LET'S DIVE IN, SHALL WE??

Key highlights in this episode include:

What's the basic physiology behind cold water immersion?

What happens to our bodies when we make ourselves cold? Does it differ in full submersion vs a shower? Does it change if we put our faces in the cold water as opposed to just our bodies?

What temperature is most appropriate for a cold plunge?

How long should we stay submerged?

What are the potential short and long term benefits? What does the research suggest?

What are the risks/potential downsides?

Who should NOT be doing this?

What about cryochambers? Do they work?

Who is Wim Hof? Should we do as the Iceman does??

Dr. Tipton recommends the following resources to learn about cold water immersion:

The University of Portsmouth webpage- including Dr. Tipton's profile.

2022 British Medical Journal article "Cold Water Therapies: Minimising Risks".

Beth Francis' video "100 Days of Vitamin Sea", chronicling her journey treating her intractable migraines with open water swimming.

Check out Prof Tipton on Twitter, @ProfMikeTipton!

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Are Seasonal Allergies Worse This Year? (with Dave Stukus, MD)

What are you allergic to? Do you know? Do you get all itchy and snotty in the spring and summer? Does it seem worse this year than in the past?? Do we have to just stop going outside?? (Spoiler alert, the answer is no to this last one.. :)

Let's answer all these questions and more!

Our expert today is Dave Stukus MD!

Dr. Stukus (or “Dr. Dave, as his patients call him” ;) is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy/Immunology Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He’s also the director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center. He’s very active on social media with @AllergyKidsDoc on Twitter and Instagram.

Key highlights in this episode include:

What actually ARE allergies?

Why do seasonal allergies seem so much worse lately?

ARE they actually worse? Why?

Does lactose intolerance count as an allergy?

How often are people "really" allergic to penicillin?

What medicines help with seasonal allergies? Is Benadryl good?

How do you know if your kid has allergies, as opposed to something else causing their symptoms?

Does allergy testing work? Who should do it?

What about allergy shots? Do they help?

Follow Dr. Stukus via his handle "allergykidsdoc" on Instagram and Twitter!

Dr. Stukus recommends the following resources to learn about allergies:

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, particularly their page on Choosing Wisely Videos, as well as the Choosing Wisely website.

(BONUS- Check out Dr. Dave's Choosing Wisely video HERE explaining IgG testing and allergies!)

The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Is Gun Violence A Public Health Problem? Highland Park Parade Shooting 1 Year Later Episode (with Garen Wintemute, MD, MPH)

Today's episode marks exactly one year since since the mass shooting at the July 4th parade in Jeremy's hometown of Highland Park, Illinois that killed seven people, injured many more.

Your Doctor Friends felt pretty strongly that we wanted to honor the day with an episode that would both help us, and hopefully help you learn more about gun violence and how to be part of the solution.

Thankfully, meaningful research exists to help us understand the unique gun violence situation in the US, and potentially what we can do to change its course.

Our expert today is THE INCOMPARABLE Garen Wintemute MD, MPH!

Dr. Wintemute is Distinguished Professor of Emergency Medicine and Baker–Teret Chair in Violence Prevention at the University of California, Davis.

He is the founding director of the Violence Prevention Research Program there and of the California Firearm Violence Research Center, the nation’s first publicly-funded center for research in this field. Trained initially as a biologist at Yale University, Dr. Wintemute attended medical school and residency at UC Davis and studied epidemiology and injury prevention at The Johns Hopkins University.

He practices and teaches emergency medicine at UC Davis Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, and is a public health leader in the world of violence prevention

Key highlights in this episode include:

Background in the history of gun violence in the US. Where are we now?

What makes the US unique in its struggle with gun violence?

What's the history of legislation re: gun violence (including assault-type weapons) prevention?

Are there actually more mass shootings now than in previous years?

Does Chicago have more gun violence than other major cities? Why is Chicago so often highlighted?

What is the mental health toll that gun violence takes? How is this being addressed?

What can people do to make a difference in gun violence prevention?

Dr. Wintemute recommends the following resources to learn about gun violence prevention:

The "What Can You Do" Initiative via UC Davis Health.

The Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis (Dr. Wintemute is the founding director :)

Clinical tools for preventing firearm injuries at The BulletPoints Project.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Does Air Pollution Hurt My Lungs? (with Brady Scott, PhD, RT)

Breathing. You’re doing it right now. You’re gonna do it about 22,000 times today. We sometimes take it for granted. Certainly when our breathing is labored, it’s all we can think about. 

The health effects of air pollution remain a public health concern worldwide. Exposure to air pollution has many substantial adverse effects on human health. Globally, according to the WHO, 7 million deaths annually are attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution.

How do we know if the air we are breathing will harm us? With the recent wildfires in Canada, and the dramatic, even shocking images of the NYC skyline looking blood red from smog and wildfire smoke, our respiratory health has been even more present in the media. 

How do our lungs defend themselves? How can we help them? Can we practice preventive habits to give our lungs the best chance possible? 

Thankfully, meaningful research exists to provide helpful data on how to protect our lungs from environmental insults, whether they’re inside our homes or floating on the breeze.

Our expert today is Brady Scott, PhD, RT!

Dr. Scott is the program director for the respiratory care program and associate professor in the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences in the College of Health Sciences at Rush University. He has been a respiratory therapist for more than 20 years, with clinical practice experience in adult emergency/critical respiratory care.

Key highlights in this episode include:

A concise explanation of how our lungs work, and how exposure to chronic irritants/pollutants effects those vital functions.

What are different kinds of indoor and outdoor air pollutants?

How can we measure those pollutant levels?

Do air purifiers help?

Is vaping as bad as smoking?

How can we protect our lungs from indoor and outdoor inhaled pollutants and irritants?

Who is at highest risk?

Dr. Scott recommends the following resources to learn about respiratory health:

Airnow.gov gives you a quick Air Quality Index in your area!

The American Lung Association website, lung.org.

Harvard's Indoor Air Quaility Study.

The EPA's site on Air Quality Data.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Series on Symptoms (SOS): Painful Urination (UTI)

Pee problems. We mean urinary frequency, urgency, and pain/burning with urination. These symptoms can be super uncomfortable, and a simple bodily function which we perform many times a day can be a dreadful experience. 

We continue our "Series on Symptoms"- where we take a deep dive into common symptoms that we experience, why they exist, and what to do about them.

In this episode we cover:

What causes painful urination (dysuria)? What about frequency and urgency?

What is actually happening in our bodies when we experience these symptoms?

What are evidence-based treatments for urinary tract infections?

Does cranberry juice actually work? Why or why not?

What are risk factors for UTI?

When should I seek urgent medical care (i.e. go to the ER)?

Our bodies are weird, wild wonderlands, and our symptoms are little clues or puzzles that require some introspection and education to understand and respond to effectively!

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

What is Gender Affirming Surgery? (with Loren Schechter, MD)

Why do people get surgery? One could argue that surgical interventions aim to "right a wrong". Maybe that "wrong" is that your appendix is acutely inflamed and infected and needs to come out. Maybe that "wrong" is that you were born with a cleft palate and your folks wanted it corrected for you so you could eat and breathe easy.

Maybe your assigned gender at birth doesn't fit your gender identity. Maybe that is the "wrong" that surgery can attempt to make "right".

Sometimes we respond to concepts we don't fully understand with fear. That fear can beget big emotional reactions. Your Doctor Friends get it. That's why we brought on our friend, Dr. Loren Schechter, a wonderfully accomplished, experienced, and kind plastic surgeon who has been performing gender affirming surgery for the past 20+ years.

Dr. Schechter is currently the director of the Gender Affirming Surgery program at Rush University Medical Center, and the President-elect of the American Society of Gender Surgeons.

In this episode, Dr. Schechter will educate us, and we will leave with a better understanding of gender affirming care.

Key highlights in this episode include:

What exactly is gender affirming surgery? What procedures are typically peformed?

How long has gender affirming surgery been around?

What is the indication for this kind of surgery?

Other than the surgeon, who is on the healthcare team for someone undergoing gender affirming surgery?

Does insurance cover these procedures?

Do people ever regret their decision to have surgery?

What cool innovations are on the horizon in the field of gender affirming surgery?

Come on this awesome journey with us, friends! Let's all understand each other better. And HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!)

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

 

Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!

 

(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)

 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)