Baptist HealthTalk

New year, new COVID surge. The Omicron variant has swept across the country bringing with it new questions about testing, symptoms, quarantine guidelines, boosters, treatments, and its impact on children.  Join host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. and a panel of experts as they clear up the confusion with medical facts and useful information in this must-listen episode. Guests: Samer Fahmy, M.D., chief me...

Did you fall off the healthy-habits wagon over the holidays? Don’t beat yourself up! And don’t give in to the lure of fad diets or going from zero-to-60 with a new exercise program. Our expert panel joins host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , with real-life tips and medical advice to help you be safe and smart while working on your 2022 health goals.   Guests:  ·       Karisa Falden, D.O. , family medici...

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet it is still perceived as a disease of men. In fact, women are 50 percent more likely than men to be diagnosed incorrectly after having a heart attack. Understanding differences -- from basic anatomy to the way they experience heart attack symptoms -- can help women take charge of their heart health. Host, Jonathan Fialko...

As the pandemic nears the two-year mark, we’ve come a long way in our fight against COVID-19 with vaccines for adults and kids, booster shots and anti-viral medications. With the omicron variant spreading rapidly, and new at-home drug treatments on the horizon, we take a look at what’s in store for 2022 and beyond. Host:  ·      Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , Chief of Cardiology at Baptist Hospital and...

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful. Holiday preparations and gatherings are fun, but the stress of the season can put a strain on your physical and mental health. Studies have even shown that heart attacks are more frequent around Christmas and New Year’s.   Learn what you can do to combat the stress of the season and make the holidays merry and bright with host, Jo...

We all know that excess sugar in our diet can lead to diabetes and weight gain. But did you ever stop to think about how sugar affects your brain? If you’re thinking “I switched to artificial sweeteners, so I'm O.K.,” listen up: they come with their own set of impacts on your brain chemistry. Join host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , and his guest Dalia Lorenzo, M.D. , a neurologist at Miami Neuros...

Holiday travel and family gatherings are expected to rebound this year to near pre-pandemic levels, even though COVID-19 is still with us and the flu is beginning its annual spread across the country. Find out what preparations you should be making now to keep your family healthy this holiday season, with host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. and a panel of experts. Guests: ·      Sara M. Panella, Pharm D....

More than one-third of American adults are considered obese. It's not just about being overweight. Obesity is linked to the development of many chronic diseases. In some cases, bariatric surgery can be an effective tool for losing a large amount of weight.  This major surgery has come a long way over the decades, but is not the answer for everyone. Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. welcomed a bari...

Smoking is the main risk factor for developing lung cancer, yet between ten- and twenty-percent of lung cancers happen in people who have never touched tobacco.  Learning about lowering your risks and improving your lung health can be lifesaving. In observance of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. gathered a panel of experts to talk about the latest news in screenings, treat...

Mammography has advanced significantly in recent years.  What sets 3D mammograms and the use of artificial intelligence apart from standard mammograms?  What questions should you ask when looking for a mammography center?  And can someone clear up the confusion when it comes to changing guidelines about when regular screenings should begin? Kathy Schilling, M.D ., medical director of the Christine...

When you visit your doctor, chances are that lifestyle factors like diet and exercise are part of the conversation. Increasingly, so is sleep.  Sleep deprivation not only has short-term effects on alertness and cognitive function, over time it can lead to a host of other significant health issues, discussed in this episode hosted by Jonathan Fialkow, M.D ., preventative cardiologist and lipidologi...

Annual screening mammograms can detect breast cancer at an early stage when it is most treatable, but often mammograms show other irregularities in the breasts that are not cancerous, such as cysts, calcifications, and dense breast tissue. What exactly do these findings mean? And where can women turn for guidance concerning these benign breast conditions? Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. welcomes Deep...

Jonathan Fialkow, M.D . hosts a panel of breast cancer experts to answer the most common questions women have after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Listen in to their wide-ranging discussion about treatments, genetic testing, fertility issues, support services and the importance of finding an experienced multidisciplinary care team. Guests: Louise Morrell, M.D ., medical director at Lynn Cancer Inst...

Telehealth visits for urgent care and mental health counseling have become commonplace during the last 18 months. Technology once limited to the doctor’s office is expanding; being integrated into the home setting to provide a continuous care experience that balances clinical support with self-management. Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D ., welcomed a panel of experts to discuss the rapidly evolving he...

Aneurysm, or ballooning of an artery, is often called a silent killer because it develops without any symptoms.  Most aneurysms are discovered by accident during imaging scans that are performed for unrelated reasons. Treatment and management of aneurysm has advanced rapidly in past decades, thanks in part to innovations pioneered by Barry T. Katzen, M.D. , founder of the Miami Cardiac & Vascu...

Blood vessels are like pipes that carry blood throughout the body. While arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the organs, our veins have the job of taking waste-filled blood back to the heart to complete the circuit.    We don't give a lot of thought to our veins – but we should.  Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D. , welcomes two vascular surgeons to help explain why.  Guests: Eileen...

Thanks to the Internet, answers to almost any question are available with a few clicks of the mouse – including questions about health concerns.  Millions of people turn to search engines, primarily Google, to look up information about symptoms, diseases, and medications. There are a lot of hazards when it comes to  using 'Dr. Google' as your main source of medical advice – but that’s a...

Host, Jonathan Fialkow, M.D . introduces personal stories from healthcare workers on the front lines of the current surge of COVID-19 cases. Sharing their experiences in their own words, these men and women paint a vivid picture of the human cost of the current crisis. Their universal plea is for the public's help in controlling the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated and taking the pro...

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...