Texas Tech Health Check

Is it allergies? Is it a cold or is it something else that's making us sneeze and cough? If you do find yourself with a runny nose or cough, is it better to stay home and eat chicken soup or to visit your primary care provider or even go to the emergency room? Our guest for this episode is Rafael Rosalez, M.D., a family medicine doctor with Texas Tech Physicians at the TTP Multispecialty Clinic in the UMC Health and Wellness Hospital. Dr. Rosalez goes over the different respiratory problems which could affect us any time of the year, what we can do to prevent getting sick or making other sick and what we can keep at home to make us feel better if we do feel sick.

Consider the largest organ in the body. Look after it and it'll take care of you. Our guest for this episode is Patti May, M.D., TTUHSC School of Medicine’s Family and Community Medicine Department and is with Texas Tech Physicians at UMC Health and Wellness Hospital.  Dr. May tells us that it’s never too early to pay attention to your skin for preventative measures. She also explains that there are differences when it comes to Botox treatment for men and women and how you can prepare before meeting with the doctor to embark on a journey to discover how embracing our unique beauty contributes to a healthier, happier life.

What does it mean to be jealous or envious in a relationship? What does it do to our mental and physical health? Our guest for this episode is Robert Ragland, licensed professional counselor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Employee Assistance Program. He explains the differences between jealousy and envy and why we sometimes feel jealous or envious – whether it's in a romantic or platonic relationship or perhaps even at work or while on social media.

Advances in detection and treatment for prostate cancer has improved so much that it's possible that patients are left with less dramatic side effects than those of past years. The key to this is early detection. Pranav Sharma, M.D., division chief of urologic oncology and clinical medical director, tells us who should get tested and when, who is at greater risk for prostate cancer and he explains what treatment is available and why sometimes not treating it is an option.

Children eye diseases and conditions are common, but certain diseases can only be cured if caught before they turn two. Temiloluwa Abikoye, M.D., an ophthalmologist, specializing in pediatric ophthalmology at Texas Tech Physicians, describes and explains these conditions and diseases. Dr. Abikoye also tell us what physicians look out for and what parents should pay attention to in their children, especially infants. 

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and more prevalent among Black and Hispanic populations. Matt Porter, M.D., is an ophthalmologist in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences. Dr. Porter explains the different types of glaucoma and treatments and how it affects our vision. He also demystifies the myth that only older adults get glaucoma and stresses why we should get checked for it.

Self-care isn't selfish. It's taking time to do the things that will help improve your physical and mental health. Poorvanshi Alag, M.D., assistant professor in the department of psychiatry, explains the different kinds of self-care and why it's important to practice, even small acts of self-care. 

One of the things our experts agree on for improving our health, in addition to quitting smoking, is getting daily exercise. Move that body. How do you start or how do you get back to exercising if it’s been a while? Here to tell us how to ease into it is Toby Brooks,  Ph.D., associate professor and program director of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Master of Athletic Training. Brooks has worked as an athletic trainer and/or strength and conditioning coach with numerous professional, collegiate, and high school athletics programs.

Since the pandemic, many of us have seen an increase in the time we spend in front of screens – whether it’s placing an order for food or a delivery, scheduling an appointment, doing homework or chatting with friends or family. That additional time in front of screens could be harming our physical and mental health. Our guest for this episode is Logan Winkelman, Ph.D., assistant professor and program director for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Dr. Winkelman tells why some of us can’t stop looking at our smartphones or tablets and what happens to our health when we spend too much time looking at our phones. She also has tips on how to limit screen time and reminds us to set our phones down and enjoy the moment – that is after you finish listening to this episode.

Spotify 2023 top episode with Winkelman: "Taking Care of Your Mental Health at Work"

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time dedicated to help the public understand the benefit of this type of serious-illness care and the importance of advance care planning. Our guest for this episode is Kelly Klein, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians Department of Family Medicine and associate professor in the TTUHSC School of Medicine. Dr. Klein explains the difference between hospice and palliative care, explains the process, and gives us suggestions on how we can approach this subject of advance care planning with family members.

It's the season to say "thanks," but expressing your gratitude daily could help improve your health. Our guest for this episode is Natalie Scanlon, Ph.D. She graciously accepted our invitation to come back and tell us the benefits of gratitude on our mental and physical health. Dr. Scanlon encourages us to practice gratitude and mindfulness and see if you start to notice any difference. Dr. Scanlon, is a clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry at TTUHSC. 

Many of us celebrate Halloween,  Dia de los muertos, and even All Saints Day and All Souls Day -- the time of year when we remember loved ones who have passed away. These holidays also give us an opportunity to think about loved ones we lost and how we grieve. However, some people, regardless of age, can become overwhelmed by their grief. Prolonged grief disorder is when the feeling of intense grief persists and prevents someone from continuing on with their life. Our guest for this episode is Natalie Scanlon, Ph.D., clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry. Dr. Scanlon explains what prolonged grief disorder is, how they diagnose and treat it and what we can do for our family, friends or coworkers who are grieving.

Eating disorders can cause a lot of harm to children and adolescents, but treatment is available. Our guest for this episode is Rosa Gomez de Jesus, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians pediatrician. Dr. Gomez explains the different types of eating disorders, warning signs, treatment and advice for parents and caregivers to help their children.

It’s the time of year when we go over the list of things we need to do to prepare for the fall and winter – take warmer clothes out of storage, get our cars serviced, prepare our lawns and gardens for the upcoming harsh weather and get vaccinated against flu, COVID and RSV. Our guest for this episode is Fiona Prabhu, M.D., School of Medicine Professor, Director of Community Engagement in the Department of Family Medicine and The Free Clinic Medical Director. She tells us what vaccines are available for us and how they work to protect us and others and what else we can do to prepare for the rest of the fall and winter so we can stay healthy and enjoy our time with our friends and family. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is a serious problem in the U.S. and puts children and adolescents at risk for poor physical and psychological health. How can parents and caregivers help their children manage their weight? That’s what Amanda Masters, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians pediatrician and associate professor in the School of Medicine, answers for us. Dr. Masters also explains how obesity is measured and helps us debunk myths with the truth about childhood obesity. 

Our guest for this episode, Christina Sanders, D.O., associate professor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Department of Neurology and a pediatric rehabilitation medicine (PRM) and brain injury medicine (BIM) physician, goes over different types of brain injuries, symptoms, treatments and long-term effects of letting it go untreated. Dr. Sanders also gives us the basics on what we can do if someone hurts their head or if we suspect someone might have an injury.

There are few more painful or confusing experiences than a gallbladder attack. This episode's guest, Justin Vaughan, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians surgeon, explains what a gallbladder does and how gallstones are formed, what triggers an attack and the risks associated with not getting treatment. 

The annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central and South America on Oct. 14 and it will be visible in parts of the U.S., with the greatest path visibility in Texas. Everyone should know by now not to stare directly at an eclipse but may not know why. Our guest, Kelly Mitchell, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians ophthalmologist, explains why we shouldn’t look directly at the eclipse and describes the damage it can do to our eyes. Dr. Mitchell also warns us about using our smart phones to look at the eclipse and gives us tips at how to enjoy the eclipse without harming our eyes.

Pinhole projection
ISO 12312-2 Standard for Solar Viewers 

There are nearly  6 million children in the U.S. with asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What can you do if your child has asthma and how can you encourage them to be active without triggering an asthma attack? Our guest for this episode is Adaobi Kanu, M.D., is a pediatric pulmonologist for Texas Tech Physicians. She explains what asthma is, what causes it, what triggers attacks, what treatments are available and what parents and caregivers can do to keep their kiddos safe. 

Plastic surgery is more than just improving someone's appearance. It involves much more, including procedures such as repairing complex wounds. For a variety of reasons, some people choose to get plastic surgery abroad, but they might come home with more complications. Guests for this episode, Bryce Stash, M.D., and Deepak Bharadia, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians surgeons, explain what plastic surgery is and how to choose a surgeon.