MedStar Health DocTalk

Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in men and women combined? March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. On this episode of our DocTalk podcast, we’re discussing colon cancer. Dr. Priyanka Kanth, the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital talks about every aspect of colon cancer from symptoms, stages, causes, and treatment.

Having accurate facts about colon and rectal cancer is very important. Whether you're reporting on a story, doing a homework assignment, or raising awareness with family, it is important to know the colon cancer signs, symptoms and risk factors.

Dr. Kanth sees patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.

For an interview with Dr. Priyanka Kanth, or for more information about this podcast, contact MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Manager Media Relations, Ryan.M.Miller2@Medstar.net.

Learn more about Dr. Kanth.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

In this heart-stirring episode of MedStar Health DocTalk, we delve into the alarming trend of heart attack fatalities among the young. With heart disease steadfastly holding its ground as the leading cause of death in the U.S., our host Debra Schindler sits down with cardiologists Dr. Barbara Srichai and Dr. Estelle Jean from the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute to dissect the why's and how's of this disturbing rise.

The episode takes an unexpected turn with the inspiring story of Jude Mabone, Miss District of Columbia 2023, who shares her jaw-dropping experience of surviving six heart attacks before turning 18. Her advocacy for heart health education, CPR, and AED awareness is a beacon of hope and action. 

Together, our experts and special guest unravel the symptoms that young people should not ignore, the impact of lifestyle choices, and the silent threat of conditions like hypertension and diabetes. They stress the importance of early intervention, knowing your body, and never dismissing potential warning signs of heart distress.

As we navigate through the nuances of heart health in the young, including the role of substance abuse and vaping, we're reminded that heart disease does not discriminate by age. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the critical importance of heart health vigilance, from adolescence through adulthood.

For a pulse on the latest in heart health, tune in to MedStar Health DocTalk, where real conversations with physician experts pave the way for a healthier tomorrow. For more episodes, visit medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Electrophysiologist Dr. Richard Jones, of the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, talks about symptoms and treatment for the full spectrum of the most common form of cardiac arrythmia: atrial fibrillation. 

 

Are you feeling a flutter in your chest, or maybe your smartwatch is signaling an irregular heartbeat? It's time to tune in to your heart's health because atrial fibrillation (AFib) is not just a condition for the textbooks—it's a growing concern for millions.

 In the latest episode of 'MedStarHealth Doc Talk,' we sit down with Dr. Richard Jones, an electrophysiologist from the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, to delve into the intricacies of AFib. With a projected 30% increase in cases every two decades, understanding AFib has never been more critical.

 AFib is the most common type of serious heart rhythm abnormality in adults. When the heart's upper chambers quiver chaotically, they fail to pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms like palpitations, fatigue, and potentially life-threatening strokes. But what's more alarming is that some individuals with AFib might not feel any symptoms at all, making them ticking time bombs for stroke risks.

 Dr. Jones explains how new guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are categorizing AFib and recommending best practices for treatment. These guidelines emphasize the importance of early intervention and the role of lifestyle changes in managing AFib.

 The episode also highlights the latest advancements in treatment, such as catheter ablation—a procedure that targets the heart's electrical misfires to prevent AFib episodes. Dr. Jones shares that while this isn't a cure, it's a significant step forward in managing the condition and improving quality of life.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Hand surgeon, Dr. Avi Giladi and endocrinologist Dr. Malik Cheikh discuss why their specialties lend to a fracture prevention program; why bone fractures are risky, particularly for seniors, as well as treatment and prevention tips.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

In our latest podcast episode, Debra sits down with Dr. Aubrey Grant, a sports and performance cardiologist at Medstar Health, who offers a deep dive into sports cardiology, the athlete's heart, and its capacity to remodel itself.

Dr. Grant, a graduate of the only sports cardiology fellowship in the country, shares his unique insights into the physiological wonders of high-performance athletes. He explains how the heart, much like any other muscle, remodels itself in response to the demands of intense exercise. This remodeling can result in an athlete's heart looking and functioning differently than a non-athlete's heart, with adaptations that are both fascinating and complex.

Listeners will be intrigued by the discussion on how different sports lead to different heart adaptations. For instance, a marathon runner's heart will not be the same as an NFL lineman's. Dr. Grant also sheds light on the importance of differentiating between these healthy adaptations and actual heart disease, a critical aspect of sports cardiology.

Dr. Grant discusses the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiograms, and cardiac MRI to assess and manage the conditions of his patients. The conversation also touches on the alarming topic of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes, the importance of CPR education, and access to defibrillators.

Dr. Grant sees patients at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore and MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre in Washington, D.C. For interviews with Dr. Grant, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, debra.schindler@medstar.net.

To learn more about Dr. Grant, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors....

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Board certified neurologist Dr. Tamar Harel discusses the complex autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is triggered by the immune system  attacking the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, known as myelin, as something foreign. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of coordination, pain, and memory and vision loss. For details on diagnosis and treatment options, listen to this week's episode of MedStar Health DocTalk with host, Debra Schindler. 

debra.schindler@medstar.net

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Dr. Irinia Tunnage of MedStar Health, talks with host Debra Schindler about the signs, symptoms, screening and treatment of cervical cancer. 

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 66,000 new cases of uterine cancer are currently diagnosed each year. Unlike most cancers in the Unites States, endometrial cancer, the most common type of uterine cancer, has been increasing in both incidence and death rates and there is no way to effectively screen for it. That’s why it’s important to understand the risk factors for and symptoms of endometrial cancer as well as how it is diagnosed and treated. During this podcast, Dr. Ali Mahdavi, a gynecologic oncologist with MedStar Health, discusses what women need to know to reduce their risk of uterine cancer and how to find it early when it is easier to treat. 

For interviews with Dr. Mahdavi, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, Debra Schindler at debra.schindler@medstar.net.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Medical oncologist Dr. Joshua Reuss, an expert in lung cancer, mesothelioma and thymoma, and pulmonologist Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, an expert in benign and malignant airway and pleural disease, both with MedStar Georgetown  University Hospital in Washington, D.C., address questions related to finding and treating lung cancer.

To listen to and download all episodes, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/news-an....

Learn more about Dr. Reuss: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors....
Learn more about Dr. Krochmal: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors....

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

There’s a game changer in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Women whose lives are compromised by pain, long periods, severe bleeding, anemia and other symptoms of the muscular tumors, can opt for an embolization through the wrist. Known as transradial uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, the doctor access the uterus though a single tiny opening in the wrist, while the patient is under twilight sedation. Most procedures take less than an hour and patients go home the same day. Dr. Brian Swehla, chief of interventional radiology at MedStar Health, has all the details about fibroids and this procedure, in this week’s episode of MedStar Health DocTalk.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Kienbock’s disease, a debilitating condition where a wrist bone collapses and dies, has no known cause.

Typically affecting young men in their teens or twenties, untreated Kienbock’s disease can result in progressive arthritis in the wrist and loss of function. For no clear reason, the lunate, one of eight small bones in the wrist, loses blood supply and the bone collapses. But how common is this extremely painful disease? And how can it be treated?

On this episode of DocTalk, the chief of the Curtis National Hand Center, James Higgins, MD, explains this condition and vascularized bone transfer - the microscopic procedure he pioneered for its treatment. Learn more about the symptoms and progression of Keinbock’s disease, and how bone, cartilage, and blood vessels are affected.

Dr. Higgins sees patients at the Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

To learn more about the Curtis National Hand Center, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/locatio....

For an appointment with one of our expert hand surgeons, call 877-864-HAND (4263).

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Liver masses or lesions are increasingly being identified incidentally during imaging tests and through bloodwork for unrelated conditions. While most are benign, many are complex making them difficult to accurately diagnose and treat. That’s why it’s important to see a specialist who can determine the specific type and nature of the lesion as the most appropriate treatment can vary greatly. During this podcast, Dr. Abhinav Sankineni, an interventional gastroenterologist, and Dr. Edward McCarron, a surgical oncologist, who both practice at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, discuss liver masses …what they are and how they are diagnosed and treated.

For interviews with Dr. Sankineni or Dr. McCarron, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, debra.schindler@medstar.net.

To learn more about Dr. McCarron, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors....

To learn more about Dr. Sankineni, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors....

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Hinton, and athletic trainer and DPT McKenzie Bane talk about the wrap-around care necessary for not only a successful return to play, but to return to performance. It's never soon enough for an athlete.

Topics covered include commotio cordis, preparation for catastrophic events on the athletic field and the evolution of sports medicine.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

From a test that lasts an average of 40-minutes, patients with nerve injuries or neuro-muscular conditions can learn a lot about the health of the nerves signaling messages to muscles. The test is called an electromyography, or EMG.  Neurologist Dr. Derrick Fox of MedStar Health explains why the test is useful, who should be tested, what information is gleaned from it, how it is conducted, and more....

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Night sweats, hot flushes, female discomfort and dryness, anxiety, and weight gain are just a few symptoms of menopause. How does a woman get there?

What are the facts and myths about this change that can make a woman feel less feminine and outdated? 

On MedStar Health’s podcast DocTalk, Christina Enzmann, MD, a gynecologist and menopause specialist at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, brings a fresh approach to explaining and treating menopause. She explains the stages of menopause, how it's different for everyone, and by making changes in your diet, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and more, a woman can live healthfully with the condition, entering a new chapter of life and feeling good about oneself. She also talks about the misconceptions of hormone replacement therapy as well as non-hormonal treatment options. Listen in at MedStarHealth.org/DocTalk.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.

By the time we reach our 40’s, about 10-million Americans have some degree of plaque build-up in the arteries, called atherosclerosis. Deposits of that plaque in the arteries can impede or block the blood flow to the legs. It’s called peripheral artery disease, or P-A-D, PAD- and you may not even know you have it. 

 To make an appointment with Jason Crowner, MD, FACS at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, call: 443.444.3431.

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped organ that secretes hormones that help regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Though uncommon, when cancer grows in the thyroid, it's not often aggressive, and very treatable when found early.  Dr. Vinay Gupta, a surgical oncologist at MedStar Health, talks with host Debra Schindler about diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. 

For more information on thyroid cancer, go to MedStarCancer.org. Or for a consult with an expert, call 443-777-7911. 

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Lung nodules are found in up to half of adults who get a chest x-ray or CT scan. Often called a spot on the lung or a shadow, they usually don’t cause any noticeable problems. However, in some cases, they can be an early sign of cancer. That’s why it’s important to seek follow-up care to accurately diagnose and monitor lung nodules. During this podcast, Dr. Ziv Gamliel, chief of Thoracic Surgery at The Angelos Center for Lung Diseases at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center discusses lung nodules…what they are and how they are diagnosed and treated. 

For interviews with Dr. Gamliel, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, debra.schindler@medstar.net.

Learn more about Dr. Gamliel here. 

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.
 CyberKnife®, also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), is non-surgical, highly precise, targeted radiation, with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional prostate radiation therapy that can take up to 40 sessions, CyberKnife treats prostate cancer in only five treatments. This treatment is extremely accurate and painless. This treatment causes minimal side effects and requires virtually no recovery time. Listen to Dr. Sean Collins, radiation oncologist and director, CyberKnife Prostate Program, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, discuss the benefits of using CyberKnife to treat prostate cancer, how it compares to traditional radiation treatment, and why patients should choose MedStar Georgetown for their CyberKnife prostate cancer treatment. For interviews with Dr. Collins, or for more information about this podcast, contact Matt Holzapfel, matthew.m.holzapfel@medstar.net.

Learn more about Dr. Collins here: MedStarHealth.org/Collins
Learn more about: CyberKnife at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.