Health Explanations for Motivated Patients: Your Checkup
Ever leave the doctor’s office more confused than when you walked in? Your Checkup: Health Explanations for Motivated Patients is your health ally in a world full of fast appointments and even faster Google searches. Each week, a family medicine physician and a pediatric nurse sit down to answer the questions your doctor didn’t have time to.
From understanding diabetes and depression to navigating obesity, high blood pressure, and everyday wellness—we make complex health topics simple, human, and actually useful. Whether you’re managing a condition, supporting a loved one, or just curious about your body, this podcast helps you get smart about your health without needing a medical degree.
Because better understanding leads to better care—and you deserve both.
Episodes
66 episodes
Pulse Oximeters May Fail People of Color: What You Need to Know
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, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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11:51
Insulin Resistance: Early Warning Signs and How to Reverse It
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 change...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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31:23
Prediabetes Explained: Risks and Prevention of Diabetes
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 define...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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34:31
Sunburn, Skin Aging & Skin Cancer Prevention
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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26:35
Fitness Might Be the Best Medicine of All
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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24:41
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Safe Sleep: Every Parent Needs to Know These Life-Saving Guidelines
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 syndr...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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29:14
Low Back Pain: Causes, Relief, Prevention for Patients
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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41:27
Full Body MRI: Marketing Hype vs. Medical Reality
• 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 approp...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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28:23
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Understanding Hypoglycemia Could Save Someone's Life: Diabetes
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 eme...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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24:14
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Seasonal Allergies: Medications and Treatments That Actually Work
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 qualit...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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21:01
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How to Manage Allergies: Trigger Avoidance
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 histam...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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32:45
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Compounding Pharmacies vs. FDA-Approved: The Weight Loss Drug Dilemma
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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29:19
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The Impact of GLP-1 Medications on Weight Loss and Muscle Mass
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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23:26
Navigating Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide
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 af...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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38:55
The Depression Treatment Triangle: Medications, Therapy, and Behavioral Activation
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 behavior...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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27:26
Understanding Depression: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Help
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 persisten...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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32:28
Understanding Measles – News Update, MMR Vaccine, and Medical History
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 em...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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28:41
Wegovy and Knee Osteoarthritis for those with Obesity
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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10:39
Fighting Health Misinformation: Tips to Stay Informed and Protect Your Health
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 frie...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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43:49
Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: Lifestyle and Statin Deep Dive
"Cholesterol Treatment Options" is a comprehensive guide to understanding the available treatments for high cholesterol. The episode explains when treatment is needed, the importance of lifestyle modifications, and a focus on medication options...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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39:53
Norovirus: The Highly Contagious Stomach Bug - What You Need to Know
This episode of "Your Checkup" tackles norovirus, a highly contagious virus that's a leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the U.S. We'll break down how it spreads, explore common outbreak locations like healthcare facil...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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12:10
Cardiovascular Risk Explained: Prevention and Management Strategies
This episode is designed to inform listeners about cardiovascular health. It explains what cardiovascular risk is, its significance, and the various risk factors involved, such as smoking, hypertension, and diabetes. The episode details how car...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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21:50
Good vs. Bad Cholesterol: A Patient's Guide to Understanding Your Lipid Profile
This episode is a comprehensive episode designed to educate listeners about the complexities of cholesterol and its impact on cardiovascular health. The episode defines hyperlipidemia detailing various types of lipids, including LDL, HDL,...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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27:07
FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3: Understanding the Risks and What's Next
The FDA has recently announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs due to concerns about its safety, based on studies showing it caused cancer in male laboratory rats. This episode of Your Checkup will explore what this m...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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22:31
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hMPV: Human Metapneumovirus Explained
This episode of "Your Checkup" provides an in-depth look at Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a common respiratory virus that often circulates alongside seasonal influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). We will explore how hMPV spreads, its...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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18:41