Health Matters

This week, our host Courtney Allison is joined by Dr. Elena Lister, a psychiatrist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine who specializes in grief. Dr. Lister discusses the importance of facing the many emotions that come with the death of a loved one or other losses. She also talks about her personal experience with grief after the death of her youngest daughter and how to find hope...

Dr. Tony Puliafico, a psychologist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, joins Faith to discuss procrastination. They explore how procrastination relates to mental health, how avoidant behaviors like procrastination get out of hand, and tips on how to stop procrastinating when it becomes a habit that its hindering our daily lives. 

To address one small change we can all make to make a big improvement in our health, we’re bringing back the conversation between Faith Salie and Dr. Carolyn Newberry, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and the director of the Gastrointestinal Nutrition Program at Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the importance of fiber and why we need more of it than we may think.

In this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Susan Broner, neurologist and headache specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explains the difference between a headache and a migraine. She also shares common migraine triggers and the new migraine treatments that offer hope and relief for people who suffer from migraines.

In this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Hoosna Haque, an OBGYN at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, discusses what to know about birth control methods, including IUDs, progesterone, and progesterone and estrogen pills. She also dives into concerns people may have about weight gain, mood swings, or impacts to fertility.

This week we talk to a sleep medicine expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to better understand just why sleep is so vital, how to make it a top priority, and to find specific steps we can take each day for a better night’s sleep.  

In this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Rahul Sharma, Emergency Physician-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Chair of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, discusses how to stay safe during a heat wave, including signs of heat illness and the importance of staying hydrated and cool. Dr. Sharma explains how hydration impacts body function, provides guidelines f...

This week, Faith talks to Dr. Daniel Freedberg, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. They discuss how the gut microbiome contributes to our overall health, and what we can do to keep the microbes in our gut thriving. Along the way, Dr. Freedberg demystifies probiotics, explains the biggest threat to our gut microbes, and explains why fiber is the most powerful tool for suppor...

With new advances in the treatment of brain cancer, patients have more options than ever. This week, Faith talks with Dr. Kathryn Beal, a radiation oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to explore how breakthroughs in immunotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery can successfully treat metastatic cancer in the brain. In recognition of Glioblastoma Awareness Day, Dr. Beal als...

With perspectives spanning hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and cardiac surgeries, NewYork-Presbyterian’s Dr. Jason Hawksworth (Columbia), Dr. Tamatha Fenster (Weill Cornell Medicine), and Dr. Arnar Geirsson (Columbia) describe how they each came to incorporate robotics into their practices. One of the biggest takeaways: robotic surgeries allow for more accuracy in minimally-invasive approaches; so pat...

With summer in full swing, we’re revisiting an important episode on some of the most common myths about the sun and sunscreen. Faith Salie talks to Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist at NewYork Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss guidance on how to choose a sunscreen that works for you and also share helpful tips on how to gauge if a mole could be a sign of something more serious.

Over 20 million Americans have some kind of thyroid issue – and 12 million of them don't even know it. Dr. Hyesoo Lowe joins Faith to explain what the small and mighty thyroid does — from regulating our body temperature, to supporting heart function, digestion, even energy and mood. They discuss why thyroid issues impact women more than men, what to do to support thyroid health, and explore the si...

This week, Faith talks to pediatrician Dr. Melanie Wilson-Taylor from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine about how to prepare your children for the summer. They cover everything from sunscreen to water safety to keeping up with academic skills. Whether your kid is going to sleep away camp or day camp, Dr. Wilson-Taylor shares tips to keep them safe and having fun all summer long.

This week, Faith is joined by urologist Dr. Alfred Winkler from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss prostate health and why it’s so important for men to get screened for prostate cancer. Dr. Winkler also shares how it’s among the most treatable cancers, and why some men can be under “active surveillance” and live with the slow-growing cancer with minimal impact on their l...

Faith Salie talks to Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, an infectious disease expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about what to do if you or a loved one is bitten by a tick. She debunked some common misconceptions about tick-borne illnesses and breaks down the steps to preventing tick bites and conducting tick checks.   Click here for the episode transcript. 

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. Colleen Cullen to discuss how, no surprise, friendship has been shown to have amazing effects on both mental health and physical health. They discuss the recent research behind loneliness, the powerful impacts of friendship on our bodies, as well as how to make new friends as adults and how to nurture the friendships that we have.

In recognition of Women’s Health Month, we’re revisiting an important episode focused on OB-GYN care. Our host, Faith Salie talks to Dr. Lauren Osborne, an OB-GYN and reproductive psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about how to protect mental health during and after pregnancy. Dr. Osborne discusses common anxiety and depression symptoms during this time and provides a...

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. JoAnn Difede, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine and a specialist in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. “Trauma” is a term that we use every day, but most of us aren’t talking about trauma in the strictly medical sense. Dr. Difede explained how trauma forms when we respond to threats that provoke us to fight, flee, or f...

Going by the dictionary, to gaslight someone is a strategy to psychologically manipulate them over a period of time so the targeted person questions the validity of their own thoughts and their perception of reality. While gaslighting isn't a formal medical diagnosis, it can have a big impact on our mental health. To help us better understand the term, since it's everywhere these days, Faith is jo...

Conversations about menopause often raise more questions than answers. This phase of life has been shown to impact everything from mental health to heart health to sleep — leaving many women in search of ways to help manage symptoms and ease this transition. Join Dr. Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, a gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and the director of the Women’s Midlife Center at Weill Cornell Medicine,...

How easy is it to get pregnant? For a successful pregnancy to occur, many things have to happen, including a healthy egg developing, the right quality and quantity of sperm, and the uterus, fallopian tubes, and hormones all functioning optimally. On top of that, the timing has to be just right. In recognition of Infertility Awareness Week, host Faith Salie talks with Dr. Alexis Melnick, reproducti...

Research has shown that the outdoors can improve a person’s mental and physical health. In honor of Earth Day, Faith is joined this week by Dr. Erin Engle, a psychologist from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to discuss the many ways that nature can reduce distractions and impact mood. Whether it's a brief walk around the block, playing outside with your kids, or volunteering at your local commun...

Recent surveys have shown that more than 60% of Americans are alcohol drinkers. But is there such a thing as a safe amount of alcohol? How does alcohol impact your health? Dr. Robert Brown, a hepatologist from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explains the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and gives recommended intakes for men and women.

Filling in for Faith this week is Angelique Serrano, a managing editor at NewYork-Presbyterian. In honor of National Donate Life Month, Angelique sat down for a special conversation with living organ donor surgeon Dr. Joseph Del Pizzo, and his patient Steve Wilson, who donated his kidney to a stranger. Steve shares his journey — from his decision to donate to his recovery — while Dr. Del Pizzo off...

This week we revisit one of our favorite episodes. Host Faith Salie, talks to NewYork-Presbyterian psychiatrist, Dr. Adrian Jacques Ambrose, about high-functioning anxiety, the sometimes crippling stress felt by high-achieving, successful individuals. They keep it together on the outside, but may be filled with self-doubt and racing thoughts on the inside. Dr. Ambrose of NewYork-Presbyterian/Colum...