Baptist HealthTalk

A career in health care is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. Even in the best of times, healthcare providers can experience symptoms of burnout.  Over the past year, and now in the midst of the current COVID-19 surge, our frontline healthcare workers have been dealing with tremendous stress, leading many to question: how can we take care of the very people we rely on to take care of...

Healing involves more than undergoing a medical procedure or taking a pill.  Increasingly, health care systems like Baptist Health South Florida are offering integrative therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, healthy foods, art therapy and pet therapy to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of their patients. In this episode, host Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , explores the impacts integ...

Confused about the Delta variant? Get the facts from host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , and his guest, Sergio Segarra, M.D. , chief medical officer at Baptist Hospital. Their conversation covers frequently asked questions including:  What is a virus variant? How is the Delta variant different from the original strain of COVID-19? Who is being most affected by the Delta variant? Why are COVID-19 hospit...

COVID-19 is again dominating the headlines and challenging the health care system, with a sharp increase in new infections. Nearly 20% of these new cases are in the state of Florida. What are the factors behind the numbers and what can be done to reverse this trend?  Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. posed those questions to a panel of experts from Baptist Health hospitals to get to the facts behind th...

Cardiometabolic disease is the number one cause of death in the world – so why haven’t you heard about it?  Maybe because its components, (including hypertension, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, obesity, and low LDL cholesterol), have traditionally been treated individually, instead of as a related cluster of conditions that, when combined, significantly increase a person’s risk of heart d...

From radio and TV ads to social media posts, there's a lot of buzz about testosterone and something called "Low T."  What are the facts behind all the hype?  We clear up the confusion with guest expert  Michael Swartzon, M.D. , a primary care sports medicine physician at Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute , a part of Baptist Health South Florida. Host, Jonathan Fialkow,...

Our bodies are not ours alone. We share them with trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes. Most of these live in our large intestine and are known collectively as the gut microbiome.  The health of your gut can influence a surprising range of conditions, from obesity and diabetes to cancer. Seth Rosen, M.D. ,  a gastroenterologist affiliated with Baptist Health, illuminates the fascinating...

Drowning can happen in an instant, in as little as an inch or two of water. It is the leading cause of injury death in children between one and four years of age, and Florida has the most child drownings each year.  With vigilance and preparation, child drowning tragedies can be prevented. The information in this podcast is essential for every parent, grandparent, babysitter, camp counselor or any...

Swollen ankles, puffy legs - we've all experienced them at some point.  There are dozens of possible causes. Most aren't serious, but some, like blood clots, are dangerous  conditions that require immediate medical care.  How can you tell the difference?  This week's guest expert is Ian Del Conde, M.D. , a board-certified cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist with Baptist He...

Men are much less likely than women to seek medical attention when they’re not feeling well. The question is: why? Why are men more prone to skipping the screenings and check-ups that could potentially add years to their lives? During Men's Health Month in June, host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. brought together a panel of Baptist Health experts to answer some frequently asked questions about men&...

Who tends to wake up earlier?  Who is more prone to sleep apnea?  What role do hormones play?  And how can you keep your partner's sleep issues from keeping you awake? Those questions and more are explored in this episode as host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. welcomes Harneet Walia, M.D ., medical director of sleep medicine and continuous improvement at Baptist Health's Miami Cardiac & Vas...

The COVID pandemic has raised awareness of mental health symptoms. Yet there is still a certain stigma attached to the subject. That stigma can make it particularly tough for men in our society, many of whom have been conditioned to believe they should be stoic and solve their problems by themselves. Experts say that cases of anxiety and depression among men of all ages often go unreported and unt...

About 23% of adults in the United States have arthritis. The associated joint pain and stiffness can make everyday activities difficult --- so difficult, in fact, that 8-million working-age adults with arthritis report that their disease limits the kind of work they can do.  Where can arthritis sufferers turn for hope and help? Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D ., and his guest, Alan Saperstein, M.D .,...

You may think only older people need to worry about having a stroke, but it can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.  Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the number-one cause of long-term disability. Stroke deaths are preventable. The most important factor is time. Stroke Prevention Awareness Month in May brought a panel of experts to the podcast, hosted by Jonathan Fial...

There's a lot of fear surrounding the topic of brain tumors - much of it due to widespread myths and misinformation linking brain tumors to everything from cell phones to sweeteners. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and a good time to separate facts from myths. Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , chief population health officer with Baptist Health, welcomes Michael McDermott, M.D . to the podca...

As more Americans become vaccinated and we look forward with hope, there is a group of people who can’t seem to fully recover from the virus. These COVID “long hauler” patients say that their illness continues to limit their day-to-day activities months after they recuperated from the initial infection. This long-term public health issue is the focus of this episode, hosted by Jonathan Fialkow, M....

Racial and ethnic minorities are among the fastest growing of all communities in the United States, making up nearly 40% of the population. Yet studies show poorer health outcomes among minorities across a wide spectrum of diseases. This past year, we’ve seen that many people from minority groups are also at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.  National Minority Health Month in...

The state of our health goes hand in hand with the health of the environment we live in.  In honor of Earth Day, we look at how Baptist Health is working to reduce energy consumption and air pollution, conserve water, cut down on waste, and educate members of the communities we serve.  Guest: Jason Bell, Assistant Vice President of Operations, Baptist Health South Florida.   

In our culture, alcohol is everywhere.  We may have a drink or two at a family dinner or social occasion without even thinking about it. But studies have linked drinking with cancer, even when done in moderation.  Long-term use can cause serious health complications, and you don't have to suffer from the disease of alcoholism to experience the consequences. In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month...

When the pandemic began, companies across the U.S. abruptly closed their offices, asking employees to work from home. One year later, millions of people are still working remotely, many facing the additional challenges of juggling child care and remote schooling. The boundary between our work lives and personal lives has become blurred, leading many to ask: "Am I working from home, or living...

Can what we eat really affect our immune system?  You bet it can!  Don’t be fooled, however, by confusing and misleading claims about so-called ‘super foods’ and over-the-counter dietary supplements.    Host Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. and his guest, Lucette Talamas, a registered dietitian with Baptist Health’s community health program, separate facts from myths when it comes to the nutrients we need t...

Minimally invasive heart procedures like TAVR and MitraClip have made headlines in recent years. What makes these innovative approaches so remarkable? And what other advanced techniques are available to make heart surgery less traumatic while changing lives for the better? Host, Dr. Jonathan Fialkow, deputy medical director and chief of cardiology at Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular I...

While we all know that being overweight has a negative impact on our health, more and more of us struggle to reach and maintain a healthy weight for our body's frame.  It's not always a simple matter of eating less and being more active.  Often, obesity can be attributed to a hormonal abnormality that leads to storing energy as fat. Weight management expert Manuel Torres, M.D. , physicia...

The most common sleep disorder, insomnia, often goes undiagnosed or untreated. Whether it's difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early, insomnia has health consequences that can impact every aspect of a person's life. Sleep specialist Dr. Harneet Walia , medical director of sleep medicine and continuous improvement at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute , joins h...

Think athletic people are immune from cardiac issues because they work out all the time? Think again. Athletes are subject to the same conditions that affect us all. When it comes to taking care of their hearts, however, they have very specialized needs. That's where the field of Sports Cardiology comes into play.  Eli Friedman, M.D. , Director of Sports Cardiology at the Miami Cardiac &...