Health Discovered

Miscarriage is common, yet many people feel unprepared when it happens. What are the different types of miscarriage, and what does follow-up care look like? We spoke with Lora Shahine, MD , double board-certified in reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and OB-GYN, about what to expect after a miscarriage, available care options, and the emotional aftermath, including the connection to postpart...

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss and can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other areas of the body, causing patchy, partial, or complete hair loss . What are the different types of alopecia, and how are they diagnosed? We spoke with Carolyn Goh, MD , a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and scalp disorders, about common forms of alopecia, signs of pattern hair loss, what to...

Have you ever felt pressure to keep the peace and ended up saying “yes” when a big part of you wanted to say “no”? In this episode, we unpack people pleasing – and, at its extreme, fawning – an often misunderstood coping response rooted in survival. We’re joined by Lia Love Avellino, LCSW , director of head and heart at The Well, to explore how boundaries,...

In this special episode of WebMD Health Discovered podcast, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our Top 5 episodes of 2025 -- and how these powerful conversations came to life. We reflect on the moments that shaped the stories you heard and the questions that guided them. You’ll hear clips from some of our most groundbreaking episodes, spanning  stillbirth and maternal care , ca...

At least 1.5 million people in the United States are living with lupus , a chronic and often misunderstood autoimmune disease. What are the most common myths about lupus – and who does it really affect? We spoke with Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH , director of the Lupus Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, about early symptoms to watch for, potential environmental triggers,...

About 805,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack each year – and the experience doesn’t end in the ER. Recovery is a long-term process. We spoke to Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, director of both the Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Health and the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at NYU Langone Health, about the signs and symptoms to watch for, what healthy recovery can loo...

Fraud targeting  older adults  is on the rise, with schemes designed to steal personal information, drain savings, or even jeopardize health through the sale of fake medical equipment. We spoke with  Robert “Bob” Blancato , who serves as the National Coordinator of the bipartisan Elder Justice Coalition and is the Executive Director of the National Association of Nu...

About 10% of U.S. children ages 5 to 15 experience migraine . For parents, figuring out what’s normal, what’s serious, and how to help can be overwhelming. We spoke with Sara Pavitt, MD , chief of the Headache Program at UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, to break it down. She explains how to recognize the signs and symptoms of migraine in kids, when to...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes inflammation in the digestive tract and can raise important questions for those who are pregnant or planning to be. Is your pregnancy “high risk” because of IBD? Can you safely stay on your medication? We spoke with Uma Mahadevan, MD , director of the UCSF Colitis and Crohn’s Disease Center, about how to prepare for a healthy pregnancy with...

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 1 in 5 new mothers in the U.S. – and it can impact anyone, regardless of age, background, or how many children you’ve had. In this episode, we speak with Megan Spence, PsyD, PMH-C , licensed clinical psychologist, about how PPD is diagnosed, the signs to look for, and what effective treatment and recovery truly involve. We also explore why open...

Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million U.S. adults. Though its cause remains unclear, it can be effectively diagnosed, treated, and managed. But what exactly is fibromyalgia, and why is it sometimes dismissed as “made up”? We spoke with  Kevin Hackshaw, MD , a board-certified rheumatologist, to discuss how fibromyalgia is  diagnosed , common pain patterns, ongoing research, and...

Living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can mean navigating a long and often complicated treatment journey, but finding the right care and support can make all the difference. What happens when your regimen stops working or new symptoms appear? We spoke with Christopher Sayed, MD, professor of dermatology at the UNC Department of Dermatology, to discuss when it’s time to talk to your docto...

When we think of AI, we don’t often connect it to the needs of older adults. But how can technology support  age-friendly care  in the digital age? We spoke with Kedar Mate, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer of  Qualified Health AI , about how  simple AI tools can empower older adults to take control of their health and wellness. From managing medications and detec...

Recurring painful bumps in your underarms, groin, or under the breasts may seem like acne – but they could be hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) , a chronic, often misunderstood skin condition. HS affects up to four percent of people in the U.S., yet it’s frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed. What can those impacted do to heal and prevent these bumps? What are the misconceptions about HS? A...

In the U.S., about 10% of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50 – and rates are rising one to two percent each year. What’s behind this trend: lifestyle, genetics, or environment? We spoke with Andrea Cercek, MD , physician-scientist and medical oncologist, about her groundbreaking clinical trial that revolutionized treatment for early-stage rectal cancers. She discu...

Each week in the U.S., about 200 people are diagnosed with  multiple sclerosis (MS) , and  women are four times more likely  than men to develop it. What are the warning signs? What challenges do patients face? And how can they advocate for themselves? We spoke with  Mitzi Joi Williams, MD,  a board-certified neurologist, to discuss health disparities that delay  diag...

Half of Americans skipped important cancer screenings in the past year. How does fear play a major factor? Or the amount of time we have? We spoke with Christopher Scuderi, DO , a primary-care physician and cancer survivor, about which screenings are most often missed, the risks of delaying them, screening guidelines to be aware of, and how to prioritize our health despite fear of knowing or busy...

About 1 in 8 men will face a  prostate cancer  diagnosis. Early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms—so how should men approach screening and advocacy? What disparities do Black men experience that would negatively impact their outcomes? And what can we do about it? We spoke with  Otis Brawley, MD , professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins, about the types...

Psychedelics like ketamine , psilocybin , and MDMA are emerging as promising treatments for mood disorders that don’t respond to standard care. What has research shown using these compounds as therapeutic tools? How can psychedelics work in the brain to alleviate mental health symptoms? We spoke with Janette Leal, MD , a board-certified psychiatrist, about the psychedelics currently being st...

Medications are designed to work best when stored at the right temperature, but heat can affect their potency and even increase health risks. How exactly can heat compromise the effectiveness of certain medications? What heat-related illnesses or side effects can occur during periods of high temperatures? We spoke with Shellyza Sajwani , pharmacist and co-founder of Climaceutics Health Solutions,...

How can we improve care for older adults while supporting their independence and dignity? In this episode, we speak with  Ellen Flaherty, PhD, MSN, APRN , vice president of the Dartmouth Health Geriatric Center of Excellence, about the 4 M’s of age-friendly care: what matters, medication, mind, and mobility. She shares how older adults can advocate for their needs, why proper  medi...

How many pesticides are on the produce we eat – and what can we do about it every day? We spoke with Alexis Temkin, PhD , senior toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), for an overview of EWG’s 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce . We unpacked everything from the “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen” lists to the most common chemicals...

What is hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) ? Why is it often misdiagnosed, and what does effective care look like? We spoke to Jennifer L. Hsiao, MD , dermatologist and director of the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Specialty Clinic at USC, to break down what HS really is, why a multidisciplinary team matters, and how new treatments, including FDA-approved biologics, are changing the landscape. We also hear...

Approximately 31 million people in the U.S., or 10% of the population, live with some form of eczema . But what are the different types of eczema, and why do certain types affect some people more than others? We spoke with Candrice R. Heath, MD, FAAP, FAAD , adult and pediatric dermatologist, about the eczema umbrella, treatment options , the surprising role of lifestyle factors like stress and sl...

While birth control is widely used today, misinformation around it still persists. Questions like: Will birth control affect my future fertility? Does it cause weight gain? And how do I know which option is right for me? We spoke with Natalie Crawford, MD , fertility doctor and co-founder of Fora Fertility, about the full spectrum of birth control – from hormonal to non-hormonal options. She...