Dr. Carolyn in Cleveland: A Women's Health Podcast

I am dedicating today's episode to Domestic Violence Awareness Month , a time in October to bring attention to a critical issue affecting our community.  Here are some sobering statistics: More than 10 million people in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence each year. An average of 24 people per minute are victims of intimate partner violence, which includes rape, physical violence, or stalki...

On this podcast, I get to talk with so many great people. And today is super-great because I get to introduce to you a woman who is funny and fierce and on fire: Gina Barreca – author, professor, humorist and feminist.  Gina has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, BBC and Oprah. She's also appeared on "American Masters" and "This American Life." Her work has been published in most major publications...

Did you know that many eye diseases are silent? You might not even realize you are developing eye damage. That's why Dr. Sue Saliba encourages her patients to get a comprehensive eye exam every two years and every year if they have diabetes. Here are some other thoughts from Dr. Saliba: Always wear sunglasses when outdoors, even on cloudy days. Get a good pair that protects you from 100% UVA and U...

If you suffer from anxiety, insomnia, chronic inflammation, or autoimmune issues, enhancing your Vagus Nerve just might be the key to feeling better. Today the brilliant Dr. Navaz Habib tells us all about the very mysterious and completely necessary Vagus Nerve. Actually, there are two vagus nerves that travel from your brain, down either side of your neck (near the carotid arteries) then branch o...

  If you're experiencing hair thinning or bald spots, here are some things Dr. Kyei would like you to know: First, losing your hair is just a symptom. If you're experiencing hair loss, you deserve a DIAGNOSIS. See a dermatologist for a complete history and scalp exam. You might also need lab work and a biopsy. DON'T WAIT! If you're experiencing hair loss, get an evaluation within 3-6 months. Avoid...

We all have a morning routine, but we're not always intentional about it. Maybe you wake up and lie in bed and scroll on your phone and get slightly depressed about other people's Instagram posts. Or maybe the alarm goes off and you don't want to get up, so you keep hitting snooze. You might get up right away, but feel anxious about the day or you start to feel down for no real reason. Before you...

Today's episode is for every woman who thinks she needs to do it all, for every woman who is exhausted and burned out. I'm talking to you if are constantly putting yourself last. Living this way caught up with today's guest, Natalie Fink. Working full-time and taking care of a husband and two children, she felt worn out, like she couldn't go on. She knew something was terribly wrong. I'd like you...

Since June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, I put together an Alzheimer's update. Today's guest is Dr. Sarah Hopp, a brilliant NIH-funded neuroscientist and researcher. She starts by discussing why Alzheimer's disease is more common in women. She also reviews what "goes wrong" in the brain during Alzheimer's: the formation of amyloid plaque outside of neurons and neurofibrillary tangles inside neur...

Are you an exhausted caregiver? You're not alone. In the United States, sixty percent of caregivers are women. Being a caregiver is hard work; it requires a great deal of patience, strength and courage. It's hard to keep going, to keep caring for a loved one. Caregiver burnout is becoming all too common. Today's guest, Kristi Horner, founder of Courage to Caregivers, is here to help. She had a bro...

You won't want to miss this special episode on how to take care of your skin! May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Shannon Trotter, a board certified dermatologist, is here to correct any skin mistakes you might be making. She also tells us about her favorite skincare products. Her secret is this: first cleanse your skin, then use one product to do the rest! She takes time to sit down and an...

Dr. Carolyn begins this episode with a personal story about a surgery she had that resulted in a serious complication. She shares what she learned from this difficult experience so you won't make the same mistake she did. SOME PRE-OP IDEAS to help you prepare for surgery: Ask about anesthesia options Confirm who will be doing your surgery Decide on Medical Power of Attorney Create a Living Will ht...

"I think I have a sugar addiction." In this episode, Dr. Carolyn talks candidly about her difficulty saying no to carbs. She grew up in a "baking family" and has many happy memories attached to homemade cookies and birthday cake. The thing is, too many carbs can lead to elevated blood sugar levels that might develop into diabetes, fatty liver disease, and even Alzheimer's. Plus, high blood sugars...

March is Women's History Month, and today we interview a true trailblazer in the field of women's health, a physician who paved the way for many women who came after her. In this episode, we enter the world of Dr. Nancy Johnson who tells us what life was like at a time when there were very few women in OBGYN, a time when male physicians weren't always offering adequate care to their female patient...

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  is more common than you think. Worse yet, physical injuries are often missed, even by medical professionals.        TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY  or TBI doesn't just affect football players and boxers. Women who are hit in the head by abusers can develop TBI, too. Again, often an invisible injury.       STRANGULATION during sex is also being reported. An alarming new statistic: one in...

This episode is personal. I always thought I was at low risk for a heart attack, but I was wrong. I want to share with you the story of how I found out I was at high risk. With this important information, hopefully you can learn how to protect your own heart.   Today's show will include information from Dr. Leslie Cho, Head of the Women's Heart Center at the Cleveland Clinic. She is an internation...

Do you ever think about how hard your heart works for you––the strong muscle in your chest that beats every second of your life? If not, maybe it's time to think about taking care of this vital organ.   When an artery to the heart muscle becomes blocked, the flow of blood is interrupted, and a small piece of this muscle can die. We call this a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction or...

Join Dr. Carolyn and Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of  PLATONIC , as they explore how non-romantic friendships can help us be healthier.   We each have "attachment styles" that influence how we make friends and it helps to be aware of these styles.   A book like  PLATONIC can guide us as we do the work of healing ourselves, resulting in relationships that are deeper and richer. Good friends also he...