This Is Why with Dr. Busti

Metformin is a first-line oral medication for type 2 diabetes.  In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will explain how metformin works to lower the A1c and help patients with type 2 diabetes get to their A1C goals.  You’ll learn how to: - Metformin mechanism of action (MOA): how biguanides lower glucose and improve insulin resistance - Where metformin fits in type 2 diabetes therapy (first-l...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will learn about the application of DPP-4 inhibitors in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The DPP-4 inhibitors (e.g., sitagliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin) have an impact of incretins (GIP, GLP-1) which have continued to evolve in other treatment options. You’ll learn how to: - Mechanism of action: DPP-4 inhibition and impact on increti...

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound)—the dual incretin GIP/GLP-1 agonist—is a beneficial treatment of type 2 diabetes and/or obesity.  In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down how tirzepatide works (MOA), why combining GIP + GLP-1 improves A1C reduction and supports weight loss, and where it fits in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. You’ll also get the high-yield points you need for...

Statins (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors) are the foundation of LDL lowering and ASCVD prevention. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will make statin pharmacology easy to understand, but also clinically relevant in the proper context of the evidence. The use of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors: atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, pitavastatin, and pravastatin are drugs in this drug class t...

Omega-3 fatty acids made easy: learn EPA vs DHA, how fish oil works, and when to use icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) in real clinical practice. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti connects PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) to outcomes, focusing on triglyceride lowering, cardiovascular risk reduction, and the key differences between OTC fish oil supplements and prescription EPA. You’ll learn ho...

Learn fibrates (fibric acid derivatives)—fenofibrate and gemfibrozil—common triglyceride-lowering drugs for hypertriglyceridemia. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down how fibrates (fenofibrate and gemfibrozil) work, when to use them, and the safety pearls you need for the patient with high triglycerides, which can lead to pancreatitis. You’ll learn how to: - Mechanism: PPAR-...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down Ezetimibe (Zetia)—the classic cholesterol absorption inhibitor—and make the pharmacology easy, high-yield, and clinically relevant. You’ll learn how ezetimibe lowers LDL-C, where it fits in dyslipidemia/hyperlipidemia therapy, and how it’s commonly used as add-on therapy to statins. You’ll learn how to: - Mechanism of action: how the chol...

ATP Citrate Lyase (ACL) Inhibitors made simple.  In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will provide you with a review of Bempedoic Acid (Nexletol), and you’ll learn how this lipid-lowering drug works, when to use it (including statin intolerance), and the key clinical pearls you need for exams and practice. You’ll learn how to: - What ATP citrate lyase inhibitors are and where they work in c...

Platelet aggregation is a core step in hemostasis—and when it’s dysregulated, it drives thrombosis. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down platelet physiology in a clear, clinically relevant way so you can understand how platelets form a primary hemostatic plug, how a thrombus develops, and why this process matters in real patient care. You’ll learn how to: - How platelet adhe...

Dive into the coagulation cascade with this clear, clinically focused review! In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti breaks down the coagulation cascade in a clear, clinically relevant way—perfect for healthcare professionals preparing for exams or patient care. Dr. Busti specifically covers the basics of hemostasis, the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, clotting factors, vitamin K-dependent...

In this lesson on P2Y12 inhibitors (ADP inhibitors), you’ll learn the high-yield, test-relevant concepts behind the most common antiplatelet drugs used in cardiovascular care. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down how platelet aggregation inhibitors work, when they’re used clinically, and the key differences between clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), ticagrelor (Brili...

In this lesson on glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) inhibitors, you’ll learn the high-yield, test-relevant concepts behind the adjunct antiplatelet drug therapy used in the acute management of patients experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI; NSTEMI, STEMI) and undergoing PCI or coronary stent placement. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down how platelet aggreg...

Master Aspirin (ASA) fast with this Antiplatelet Pharmacology Made Easy & Relevant lecture. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will make sure you learn how acetylsalicylic acid works as an antiplatelet drug, including COX-1 inhibition, decreased thromboxane A2 (TXA2), and reduced platelet aggregation—plus the key clinical takeaways for MI prevention, stroke prevention, and secondary p...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down Heparin (UFH) and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins (LMWHs), such as enoxaparin (Lovenox) and dalteparin (Fragmin), with a clear, clinically relevant approach. If you’re studying anticoagulation or need a fast refresher on anticoagulants, this video is for you. In this lesson, you’ll learn: - Heparin mechanism of action (UFH vs LMWH) + how th...

Factor Xa inhibitors (DOACs) made easy—fast, clear, and clinically relevant. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and how Factor Xa inhibitors work, with relevance. You’ll learn how to: - What Factor Xa inhibitors do (mechanism of action) - Key drugs: Apixaban (Eliquis), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Edoxaban (Savaysa) - Common indications: Afib s...

Warfarin (Vitamin K Antagonist; VKA) doesn’t have to be confusing. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will explain warfarin's (Coumadin) pharmacology in a simple, clinically relevant way. It is perfect for anyone reviewing anticoagulation. You’ll learn how to: - Mechanism of action: how warfarin works as a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) (VKOR inhibition) - What PT/INR measures and why IN...

Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (DTIs) made simple and clinically relevant! In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will help you master direct thrombin (Factor IIa) inhibitors—including the oral DTI dabigatran (Pradaxa) and key parenteral DTIs like bivalirudin (and where argatroban fits clinically, especially in the acute care setting) You’ll learn how to: - Where direct thrombin inhibitors work i...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will make Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) simple, practical, and clinically relevant—so you can confidently recognize CAP, assess severity, and choose the right pneumonia treatment. What you’ll learn: - How to approach CAP pneumonia like a clinician: presentation, diagnosis, and key differentials - How to assess severity using CURB-65 and the Pneumoni...

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) made easy—clinically relevant ECG/EKG interpretation, how to recognize AFib with RVR, and how to approach AFib management from bedside to boards. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will , Dr. Busti breaks down atrial fibrillation in a clear, practical way so you can confidently answer: - What is AFib and why does it matter clinically? - How do you identify AFib...

Sulfa allergy is one of the most commonly reported drug allergies (often cited around ~6% of patients), and it frequently leads clinicians to avoid entire medication classes—sometimes unnecessarily. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down what drugs to avoid with a sulfa allergy (and what’s usually safe) by focusing on the “why”: the chemical features that drive true sulfonamid...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down the term odynophagia—how to pronounce it, how to use it correctly in charting and clinical conversation, and the most common conditions that cause swallowing pain (painful swallowing). This quick, high-yield refresher will help you confidently recognize and document odynophagia and avoid common mistakes (like confusing it with dysphagia)....

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will make the identification of the heart borders and heart chambers on a chest x-ray easy. Dr. Busti will walk step-by-step through how to identify the cardiac silhouette, locate the heart borders, and understand where the right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, left atrial appendage, and apex of the heart sit on a standard PA chest...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down dysphagia—the medical term for difficulty swallowing—in a clear, clinically relevant way. You’ll learn what dysphagia means, how clinicians use the term, and how to quickly recognize the difference between oropharyngeal dysphagia vs esophageal dysphagia. We’ll also cover high-yield dysphagia causes, red flags, and common pitfalls that lea...

Are you looking at a portable chest x-ray and wondering, “Is this exposure good enough to trust?” In this video, we walk through how to check chest x-ray exposure step-by-step so you can quickly decide if a CXR is adequately penetrated and ready for interpretation. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will provide you with a practical approach to how to read chest x-rays and judge image qua...

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will walk step-by-step through rib anatomy on a portable AP chest x ray, so you can quickly recognize posterior vs anterior ribs, assess inspiratory effort, and improve your overall chest x ray interpretation skills. You’ll learn how to: Spot posterior ribs and anterior ribs on a standard AP chest x ray Use rib counting to judge film quality and inspirat...