Baptist HealthTalk

Trying to eat healthy in the U.S. can feel overwhelming. With fast food everywhere, confusing nutrition advice online, and busy schedules, many people struggle to know what a truly healthy diet looks like. In this episode of Baptist HealthTalk , experts from Baptist Health discuss practical ways to build healthier eating habits while living in the United States. They explain how everyday food choi...

Statements such as – "I’m so empty, I can’t even cry” ... “It’s like hell.” – are just some of the ways sufferers of depression have described their conditions. However, now patients are sharing these: "For the first time in years, I am off all anti-depression medications" ... "My family and friends say it’s great to have ‘me’ back.” Many patients have shared very similar exper...

Colorectal cancer isn’t exactly exciting dinner conversation. But the alarming fact of the matter is that colorectal cancer is on the rise in young adults under 50 and has been for years. And doctors say people as young as 20 – that’s both Millennials and Gen Zers -- need to know the warning signs.   Host:   Johanna Gomez   Guests: Victor Maciel, M.D. , Colorectal Surgeon at Baptist Health Youssef...

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become a hot topic lately, and a game-changer in the healthcare field. AI is already being used for medical imaging analysis, telehealth, and robot-assisted surgery – and that’s only the beginning. Technological advances in recent years have enabled physicians to help a wider range of patients with complex heart issues and catch problems sooner with novel device...

You’ve probably heard the saying: “Men are from Mars; women are from Venus.” Well, that may apply to heart health too.  Recent research has shown how heart disease and heart attacks can affect women worse or very differently, compared to men. This makes it so important for women to take charge of their health and understand their personal risk factors and family history.    Host:    Neki Mohan, Aw...

The saying "saving your skin" takes on extra meaning when you are outdoors. Living a "sun and fun" lifestyle can come with a price -- the sun's damaging UV rays and the risk of skin cancer. Hopefully, you practice safety by using sunscreens, hats and clothing to mitigate those harmful rays. Some people forget that sun damage and skin cancer can be synonymous. As spring and...

We all know someone affected by heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death for all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity. But did you know that Black adults in the U.S. are at a greater risk than any ethnic group? Research shows that Black adults are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease.  And conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension put them at an increased risk....

Exercise is an important component of maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. But there’s often an assumption that athletes, or physically active people, are not at risk of heart-related issues. Athletes are not immune. They can suffer from cardiovascular conditions at any point in their lives. Activity can range from mild to intense -- from the amateur to the marathon runner or professional...

Nearly 4 percent of the world’s population – or more than 320 million people -- is affected by one of more than 80 autoimmune diseases, with some of the most common ones being multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the vast majority of cases, autoimmune diseases are not fatal, and individuals can live full lives. But managing such a disease can be a frustrating battle if you don’t know wh...

Did you know that one in ten people suffer from a thyroid disorder? The thyroid is a small gland that plays a huge role in your body through the hormones it produces. More than half of U.S. adults who suffer from a thyroid disorder don’t even know it. What this small butterfly-shaped powerhouse can do includes controlling your body’s temperature, figuring out how quickly you burn calories – and ma...

Cervical cancer is still one of the most common cancers, with more than 14,000 women in the United States diagnosed every year But, there is some good news. Thanks to advancements in screening and diagnosis, cervical cancer is not only preventable, but also one of the most successfully treatable cancers.    Host: Johanna Gomez, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and TV Host    Guest: John Diaz, M.D., C...

Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman’s body -- physically and hormonally. Many of these changes can present with symptoms or signs that may raise concerns of underlying cardiac conditions. Additionally, many women who have certain medical conditions may have a worsening of issues with pregnancy involving their cardiovascular conditions. Often, doctors are not fully aware of the cardiac issues...

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States every year. And while smoking rates across the country are on a downward trend, the effects from smoking can linger for years. The American Cancer Society suggests there are over 5 million smokers or previous smokers who should undergo annual screenings for lung cancer – with early detection being the best shot at beating the deadly disea...

Have you ever heard of someone being hit with a sudden headache -- but not just any headache -- one of an explosive and unexpected nature that is likened to a "clap of thunder?" When followed by vomiting and blurry vision, the odds are high that it's a brain aneurysm. And the individual should seek medical care immediately.   A brain aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on an artery in t...

Breast cancer dates back more than a thousand years and is the world's most prevalent cancer. The dreaded C-word is one that strikes fear far too often. But the chances for survival are always improving. The past 20 years have seen advances in treatment regimens, bringing hope for millions of women and their families.   Guests: Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , Chief of Cardiology at Baptist Hospital...

Chest pain -- it’s the warning bell that scares us. Sometimes, we accurately presume “heart attack.” But what if it isn’t?  While men are more likely to suffer heart attacks, and at a younger age, roughly 24% of women in emergency rooms for chest pain are found to have coronary artery disease. Women don't tend to think of themselves as at risk for coronary artery disease and heart attacks. An...

Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. CDC estimates that more than 2 million people in the United States have hepatitis C, and those numbers don’t include hepatitis A, B, D and E.   Host: Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , Chief of Cardiology at Baptist Hospital and Chief Population Health Officer at Baptist Health .   Gu...

Did you forget where you put your keys again? Forget to get eggs at the grocery store? These are common memory lapses. They happen with age. Absent-mindedness is one common and often unavoidable downfall of getting old. But, when you have noticeable memory difficulties like experiencing confusion about where you are, then your loved ones start questioning your lucidity. And then Alzheimer’s or oth...

Skin cancer affects more than 3 million people in the U.S. every year, with sun exposure being the most common factor. But don’t worry, there’s a simple and safe solution: Sunscreen. Hats, clothes and properly applied sunscreen are vital for protection. Even then, no defense is perfect. But if skin cancer is found early enough, it can often be easily treated. Left unchecked? Well, that’s when the...

Is your child’s sedentary lifestyle of playing videogames, watching TV or being on their phones affecting their waistlines? They’re not alone. Diagnoses by pediatricians of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and painful joint conditions have increased in recent years. The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for treating childhood obesity, and the report has s...

Imagine you've just come home from a stressful day, and there on the counter are those delicious cookies staring right at you. You know they’ve got artificial sweeteners in them, so -- no harm, no foul. Right?  Not so fast. More and more, new research shows how fake sugars negatively affect your gut and metabolic health, and your heart. They boost food cravings and insulin resistance, which i...

Chadwick Boseman, Oscar-award winning actor died at 43 of colon cancer.  44-year old superstar Ryan Reynolds gets a colonoscopy after losing a bet, revealing several polyps that were discovered and removed successfully.    As if there aren’t enough headlines about the dangers of colorectal cancer lately, listen up! Colorectal cancers are getting diagnosed more frequently at a younger age and preve...

"Lub-dub" are the words often used to describe the sound of a normal beating heart. But when a swooshing sound is mixed in, the words "heart murmur" become a part of the conversation. To a doctor, questions­ arise: Is it an innocent, or an abnormal murmur? Is it a heart valve problem or a structural defect that could lead to real trouble?   Host:   Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , Chie...

There’s a lot of buzz about AI these days, or artificial intelligence. But there's been very little talk about the brains of the whole operation -- ours. The human brain is the command center of everything we create and do. It is ever evolving as we grow from childhood through adulthood. The question is: What are those changes and how can we improve on them by helping and maintaining what lif...

Maybe you’ve had it. Maybe someone near and dear to you died from it, or you’re dealing with long term effects from it. It was a global pandemic that impacted each and every one of us. Three years ago, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. More than 6.5 million have died from it, with 1.1 million of those right here in the United States. Is it over? No. But as w...