Medgeeks with Andrew Reid

In this latest Bugs and Drugs episode, we will discuss a very rare bacterial disease that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. However, it can affect other organs such as joints, heart and lungs. This infectious disease is known as Tropheryma whipplei or Whipple disease. Your patient might present with chronic diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain and joint problems. To help you correctly...

For those that travel to paradise, you are looking forward to sunshine, sandy toes and…intestinal pain? Tropical Sprue, not to be confused with traveler's diarrhea, is a chronic malabsorption syndrome that can plague those living in or visiting tropical regions. Symptoms like chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue can turn your dream vacation into a living nightmare. We'll break down how to di...

In this episode, we will talk about a microbe lurking in your water. It can cause intestinal problems such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloating. It's found in contaminated water and undercooked or raw foods and is one of the most common waterborne illnesses in the United States. This microscopic parasite is giardia. Giardia can be diagnosed from a stool test or microscopic examination. And is...

Knees causing trouble again? This time, it is not gout, but an imposter known as pseudogout. Now what is pseudogout, you ask? Think of it as gout's mischievous twin. Like gout, it triggers sudden knee pain and inflammation, but instead of uric acid crystals, it is calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in your joints. The symptoms are similar to gout, swelling, redness and pain, often in...

Happy New Year! Have you or your patient ever experienced a pain in your toe so agonizing it feels like someone stabbed you in the joint? Then you might have what used to be known as, "the disease of kings," also known as gout. We will dive into exploring gout, busting myths, exploring remedies and offering tips to keep those crystals calm. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he unravels the myths and misery...

Happy holidays! Let's take a deep dive into the world of water, that essential liquid we sometimes take for granted.  In this episode, we'll be busting some myths about water's most popular misconceptions. Is the pH in that alkaline water better for you? Is 8 cups of water enough to keep you hydrated throughout the day? Does dark urine mean you are dehydrated? Join Dr. Niket Sonpal on this refresh...

As the holidays approach, one of the classic holiday movies that will be playing is Home Alone. As you may know, Kevin, the pint-sized architect of chaos, unleashes some amazing booby traps on the Wet Bandits. Ever wonder how they could have survived after each trap? Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he peels back and examines the (not-so-realistic) physics that kept our favorite burglars breathing. Decemb...

With the holiday season in full swing, it also comes with more people getting sick and getting sinus infections. The specific sinus infection that we will discuss is rhinosinusitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the sinuses and the nasal cavity. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies, infections and structural abnormalities. We will go over the four different typ...

In the latest podcast episode, we will discuss a common foot condition known as plantar fasciitis. It is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. This tissue plays a crucial role in supporting the arch of the foot and absorbing shock while walking or running. Dr. Niket Sonpal will go over the symptoms, most common is heel pain and it is usually when taki...

In this episode, we will go over some common bicep injuries, which sometimes can be masked as shoulder pain. The bicep is located in the front of the upper arm and is responsible for bending the elbow.  Bicep injuries can range from mild to severe, and can be caused by a variety of factors, including overuse, sudden trauma, and underlying medical conditions. Some symptoms of a bicep injury can var...

Do you know what can cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing? Both, distal esophageal spasm (DES) and hypercontractile esophagus (HE). DES causes spasms of the lower esophageal sphincter, while HE causes contractions of the esophagus that are stronger than normal, also known as jackhammer esophagus. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he discusses the symptoms of DES and HE such as chest pain, difficulty...

In our latest podcast, we will discuss a common infection of the outer ear known as otitis externa or Swimmer's Ear. It is caused by water getting trapped in the ear and creating a moist environment for bacteria and fungi. Some symptoms of swimmer's ear are itching, discharge and hearing loss. The best ways to prevent swimmer's ear, including drying your ears thoroughly and earplugs. Next, is the...

Happy Halloween! In this episode, we will talk about some myths in medicine. First, we will talk about diverticulitis and we used to tell patients not to eat nuts and seeds. Next, we will talk about statins and myopathy. When we thought we should tell patients to take statins in general. The last myth will discuss STDs. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he enlightens us about some scary myths about medicin...

In this week's podcast, we will discuss two common overuse injuries of the elbow, commonly known as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. Both are caused by repetitive use of the forearm muscles from a variety of activities, not just tennis or golf. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is inflammation of the tendon on the outside of the elbow. Golfer's elbow, also known as medial epicondy...

In this week's podcast, we will start our next series on dysphagia, specifically achalasia. Achalasia is a rare esophageal disorder that affects the nerves and muscles of the esophagus, in which the muscle does not relax properly. Making it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach. We will discuss the symptoms your patient might present with such as dysphagia, regurgitation of undige...

In this podcast episode, we will discuss Achilles tendinopathy, which is a common injury that affects runners, athletes and anyone who decides to start a new workout regimen and doesn't wear the proper footwear. The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that connects the calf muscle and the heel bone. Achilles tendinopathy is an overuse injury of this tendon. Some treatments include rest, ice, compr...

In this episode of the Liver Series, Dr. Niket Sonpal discusses drug-induced liver injury (DILI), a common and potentially serious side effect of many medications. DILI can occur in people of all ages, but is more common in older adults and people with pre-existing liver disease. DILI can be caused by a wide variety of medications, including over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, and he...

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and for good reason. It's delicious, it gives you a boost of energy, and it's been linked to a number of health benefits. There are also some myths and things added to coffee that will have you scratching your head. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he discusses that cup of Joe that we all enjoy. September 25, 2023 — Do you work in primary care medicin...

This week's podcast, we will discuss eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Which is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus and can be characterized by an accumulation of eosinophils, a white blood cell, in the esophageal lining. Join Dr. Niket Sonapl as he discusses the symptoms your patient might present with are difficulty swallowing, chest pain, heartburn and nausea. EoE is diagnosed throu...

In this episode of our Liver Series, we will discuss a couple of liver diseases that may occur during pregnancy: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Intrahepatic cholestasis is a liver condition that occurs late in pregnancy. It's caused by a backup of bile acids in the liver. Acute fatty liver is a rare, but serious liver disease that occurs in t...

We all love the magic of movies and might wonder if that could actually happen in real life. Would a lightsaber to the upper chest instantly kill a person? Can Harry Potter's scar really hurt like in the movies when "He-Who-Not-Be-Named" gets close? Can Magneto really pull iron out of the guard's body?  Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he goes over some of our favorite movies/tv shows and the medicine fac...

In this episode of the Liver Series, will discuss acetaminophen toxicity. Which is a common over-the-counter- pain reliever and fever reducer. However, it can be toxic to the liver if taken in high doses or in combination with other medications that can damage the liver. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he discusses the symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity, which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain...

In this week's podcast, we are going to take a break from the Liver Series and continue our other series: In the News. Where we will discuss the latest topics around the medical world. Some of the topics we will discuss are the new Covid variant, which is the new dominant variant in the US. Next is the rise of vibrio vulnificus (the bug you learned about in microbiology), which is a bacteria that...

In our next episode for the Liver Series, we will discuss Ischemic Hepatitis, a condition that occurs when the liver does not receive enough blood flow. This can be caused by a variety of factore, including heart failure, sepsis and shock. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he discusses the symptoms of Ischemic Hepatitis, which can include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. He will also go over the di...

In this next episode of our Liver Series, we will discuss a rare genetic disorder that causes copper to build up in the body known as Wilson's Disease. Which can lead to damage to the liver, brain and other organs. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal explains how Wilson's Disease is diagnosed and treated. He will also discuss the symptoms of Wilson's Disease, which can vary depending on the organ system that is...