Texas Tech Health Check

Send us Fan Mail A cancer diagnosis often affects patients' mental health leading to anxiety, depression and social isolation. In this episode, guest Gabriela Lelakowska, Ph. D. , assistant professor and psychologist in the department of psychiatry in the TTUHSC School of Medicine,  emphasizes the importance of open communication, maintaining routines and using professional resources when a l...

Send us Fan Mail What is your favorite fictional villain or monster? Do they have a medical condition that led them on the path of evil? How medically accurate is that? Perhaps that character wouldn’t have a been a bad guy were it not for neglect or other people’s hubris? Our experts for this episode are Ron Cook, D.O. , Chief Health Officer for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Al...

Send us Fan Mail Respiratory illness season is practically here. What can you do to protect your lung health right now? Tushi Singh, M.D., and Ricardo Franco, M.D. , both pulmonologists with Texas Tech Physicians, are back for another episode , this one on lung cancer and what we can do to keep our lungs healthy, especially during this time of the year. You will definitely gain a better appreciati...

Send us Fan Mail Our introduction reminds our listeners that they are getting evidence-based advice and here's an example of how our experts are doing just that. Texas Tech Physicians Orthopedic Surgeon Matthew Kraeutler, M.D., wants to preserve our knee joints and delay or avoid the need for a total knee replacement. He describes the three primary factors involved with preservation of the kn...

Send us Fan Mail September is National Preparedness Month , but we should be prepared for disasters regardless of the time of year. In addition to being prepared, it's good to know also what role public health has when it comes to preparing and responding to disasters. Amal Mitra, DrPH, MBBS, chair of the department of public health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Julia Jo...

Send us Fan Mail Our health and well-being can affect our sexual health. Illness and disease affect men and women when it comes to physical relationships. Oftentimes, those issues take a toll on our mental health. Don't suffer in silence. Talk to a medical professional. Our guest experts for this episode are two advance practice nurse practitioners from the department of urology, Melissa Bowy...

Send us Fan Mail In part two of this special series, we take our listeners on the journey of childhood cancer, from diagnosis to survivorship. This is the story of Emmie Rangel, a four-year-old who was diagnosed with cancer. Because she  and her family live in a rural area, they had to travel for hours in order to receive a diagnosis and then for treatment and other emergencies. This episode shift...

Send us Fan Mail September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month . Cancer is one of the leading causes of disease-related deaths in children. Thanks to advances in treatment, early detection and specialized pediatric oncology, survival rates for many childhood cancers have improved.  This is part one of a two-episode series on childhood cancer. Mohamad Al-Rahawan, M.D., pediatric oncologist with Tex...

Send us Fan Mail By now, college students have had time to settle into their new routines. That's why now is the time for them to get to know their student health center. Our guest for this episode is Erika Radford, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians family medicine doctor and assistant medical director at Student Health Services . She talks to us about the many services available for students at TT...

Send us Fan Mail Preview of the new season.

Send us Fan Mail A few weeks ago we covered pelvic floor dysfunction in men . So for this episode, we’re focusing on pelvic floor dysfunction in women. Our expert is physical therapist Ashlee Crawford, DPT, Texas Tech Physicians Physical Therapy Specialty Clinic in Amarillo. She answers our questions about causes, symptoms —treatments and how to go about seeking treatment — and how we can encourag...

Send us Fan Mail Children need constant supervision, but what can parents or caregivers do when trouble finds the kiddos? Spencer Pruitt, M.D. , Texas Tech Physicians pediatrician, answers our questions about potentially emergency situations such as animal bites or stings, drownings , handling a wild animal or being bitten by one. Dr. Pruitt also answers our questions about children and dehydratio...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re in a certain age range, your feeds or timelines might include ads about pelvic floor dysfunction. Some people might think it's a problem just for women, but our guests for this episode did a wonderful job of educating us about how pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) affects men. A previous guest who spoke to us about  testosterone treatments , Melissa Bowyer is a family...

Send us Fan Mail Clinical trials are the future of medicine, to borrow a phrase. Every medication on the market right now was at one point in time subject to a clinical trial. Our guest for this episode, Jennifer Kesey, Ph. D., associate managing director for the Clinical Research Institute at TTUHSC, explains to us what a clinical trial is, the different types of trials and how to participate in...

Send us Fan Mail Moms and moms-to-be need all the support they can get. One of those sources of support is housed in the TTUHSC School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics in Amarillo. The Infant Risk Center is a call center used by physicians, nurse, lactation consultants and mothers worldwide. Our guest for this episode is director of the Infant Risk Center of Excellence , Kaytlin Krutsch, Ph. D...

Send us Fan Mail June is Men’s Health Month, and we want to bring attention to male infertility. Why this is an important health topic is one of the questions we ask our expert for this episode, Samuel Prien, Ph. D. , professor and director of clinical research laboratories in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine. Dr. Prien explains what factors contribute to male...

Send us Fan Mail Financial insecurity can negatively affect our sleep and nutrition and cause social isolation. All of these take a toll on our mental health. Michele Mahr, Ph. D., assistant professor at the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling department of clinical counseling and mental health, is out guest expert for this episode. Dr. Mahr emphasizes the import...

Send us Fan Mail You don't need garlic or sunlight to protect yourself against vampires -- energy vampires -- that seem to leave some people exhausted and overwhelmed. David Pfaff, Ph. D., clinical mental health therapist with the School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, is our expert for this episode. He shares with us how we can identify and set boundaries wit...

Send us Fan Mail Vaping, initially intended as a smoking cessation tool, has evolved into a harmful trend, especially among young people. Tushi Singh, M.D. , and Ricardo Franco, M.D. , pulmonologists at Texas Tech Physicians, talk to us about the history of vaping and why it's harmful to our health, and stress seeking professional help for smoking cessation.  Dr. Singh's previous episode...

Send us Fan Mail Breast cancer in males is a rare cut clinically significant disease. Males have many of the same risk factors as females, but delay in seeking health care puts them at greater risk. Richard Pullen, Ed. D., MSN, director of the R.N. to BSN program in the School of Nursing, explains why males might put off reporting a lump in their breast or even checking for lumps. Dr. Pullen tells...

Send us Fan Mail Loose or sagging skin creating folds on the upper eyelid, excess skin and wrinkles around the lower eyelid, drooping lower eyelids -- all these and others can at some point impair your vision. Or perhaps you feel that the skin around your eyes could use a refresh. Coby Ray, M.D. , an oculoplastic surgeon at Texas Tech Physicians, is our expert for this episode. Dr. Ray explains th...

Send us Fan Mail April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month . Lynn Jennings, Ph. D., has ben treating child sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect for over 20 years. She is the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program assistant program director/instructor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health. Dr. Jennings emphasizes the need for earl...

Send us Fan Mail Natural and artificial food dyes are ubiquitous, but some people try to avoid consuming food or beverages of a certain color for different reasons. James Tarbox, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians allergist, explains that food dyes are added to food for aesthetic purposes and are generally safe. They can cause rare allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, shortness of breath and low b...

Send us Fan Mail If you want a quick boost to your mood,  just clearing or cleaning a small space will make you feel better. Logan Winkelman, Ph. D. , is our guest expert and explains why tidying up can be therapeutic. Dr. Winkelman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health and Program Director for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counselin...

Send us Fan Mail Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, referred to as COPD , is a progressive disease which can, over time, limit your ability to do basic activities such as walking, cooking or taking care of yourself. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is two times more common in rural areas than it is in large cities...