Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients
Ever leave the doctor’s office more confused than when you walked in? Your Checkup: Health Conversations for Motivated Patients is your health ally in a world full of fast appointments and even faster Google searches. Each week, a board certified family medicine physician and a pediatric nurse sit down to answer the questions your doctor didn’t have time to.
From understanding diabetes and depression to navigating obesity, high blood pressure, and everyday wellness—we make complex health topics simple, human, and actually useful. Whether you’re managing a condition, supporting a loved one, or just curious about your body, this podcast helps you get smart about your health without needing a medical degree.
Because better understanding leads to better care—and you deserve both.
Episodes
75 episodes
74: Why Your Body Fights Weight Loss: Metabolic Adaptation Explained
Metabolic adaptation is a powerful physiological process that explains why weight loss is so challenging and why keeping it off can feel like your body is working against you.• Your body burns fewer calories than expected after weight l...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 19
•
35:33
73: Ultra-Processed Foods: Why Food Processing Matters for Your Health
Our food choices extend far beyond calories, with recent research showing minimally processed diets outperform ultra-processed diets for weight loss even when nutrient content is identical.• Ultra-processed foods contain industrial ingr...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 18
•
41:31
.png)
72: How Many Steps a Day Keep the Doctor Away? New Study Reveals the Answer
We dive deep into recent research that challenges everything you think you know about daily step goals. The famous 10,000 steps target was actually a marketing gimmick from 1960s Japan with no scientific backing, while new evidence shows 7,000 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 17
•
26:45
71: Tylenol vs. NSAIDs: Which Pain Reliever Is Right For You?
We break down the key differences between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) to help you make informed decisions about which pain reliever is right for you. This evidence-based discussion draws from top medical so...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 16
•
27:49
70: PCOS: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options for Patients
PCOS affects approximately one in ten women of reproductive age, creating a cascade of symptoms from irregular periods to fertility challenges. This common hormonal and metabolic condition has implications for long-term health beyond just repro...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 15
•
23:25
69: Mediterranean Diet: Life Prolonging Benefits & Sample Meals
The Mediterranean diet is an evidence-based eating pattern that supports heart health, brain health, and longevity with delicious, sustainable food choices. We explore what makes this diet special and provide practical ways to incorporate its p...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 14
•
53:34
68: Side Effects Broken Down: GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications Explained
On this episode discuss the side effects of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro offering practical strategies to manage these effects while still benefiting from the medications.• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 13
•
48:01
67: Understanding Heat-Related Illness: Surviving Summer's Deadly Threat
We explore heat-related illnesses, from mild conditions to life-threatening emergencies, providing crucial information for staying safe during hot weather. We break down the six types of heat-related conditions and explain who's most vulnerable...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 12
•
40:23
66: Medical Mishaps: When Patient Education Falls Short
We discuss an important patient education story about medication misunderstandings that could have led to serious harm, highlighting the gaps in healthcare instruction.• Nicole shares her experience with a broken toe and visit to urgent...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 11
•
23:02
65: Pulse Oximeters May Fail People of Color: What You Need to Know
We investigate how pulse oximeters – those small devices that clip onto your finger and measure oxygen levels – can show bias against people with darker skin tones. This critical medical tool may overestimate oxygen readings in Black patients, ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 10
•
11:51
64: Insulin Resistance: Early Warning Signs, Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes
Insulin resistance often precedes diabetes by 5-10 years and serves as an early warning sign of potential damage to your cardiovascular system and other organs. We explore this common condition, its risk factors, and how simple lifestyle change...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 9
•
31:23
63: Prediabetes Explained: Risks and Prevention of Diabetes
Prediabetes affects over one-third of Americans, yet 80% don't know they have it. We break down what this silent condition means for your health and provide practical strategies to prevent progression to diabetes.• Prediabetes is define...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
34:31
62: Sunburn, Skin Aging & Skin Cancer Prevention
We dive deep into the essential topic of skin cancer prevention and sun protection methods. As summer approaches, it's crucial to understand how to protect yourself from harmful UV rays that can lead to skin cancer, a condition that affects one...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
26:35
61: Fitness Might Be the Best Medicine of All
Cardiorespiratory fitness might be the strongest predictor of how long you'll live, with a massive study showing fitness level may have a more significant impact than traditional risk factors like smoking or diabetes.• Study of 122,000 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
24:41
.png)
60: Safe Sleep: Every Parent Needs to Know These Life-Saving Guidelines
Safe infant sleep guidelines have reduced SIDS deaths by 50-80% over the last three decades, yet funding for this critical public health campaign is now at risk of being cut.• Explained difference between SIDS (sudden infant death syndr...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
29:14
59: Low Back Pain: Causes, Relief, Prevention for Patients
Back pain affects 80% of people at some point in their lives, but the good news is that approximately 90% of cases improve within 6-12 weeks with proper care and movement. Understanding the causes, treatments, and prevention strategies for back...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
41:27
58: Full Body MRI: Marketing Hype vs. Medical Reality
• Full body MRIs cost around $2,500 and are being promoted as the "gold standard" for preventative health without proper medical context• Unlike established screening tests, these scans haven't been evaluated by medical societies for approp...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
28:23
.png)
57: Understanding Hypoglycemia Could Save Someone's Life: Diabetes
We dive deep into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), exploring its causes, symptoms, and critical treatment options for patients with diabetes and their loved ones. This episode provides essential knowledge that could potentially save lives in eme...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
24:14
.png)
56: Seasonal Allergies: Medications and Treatments That Actually Work
Managing allergic rhinitis requires realistic expectations and a strategic approach to medication. Though no treatment will completely eliminate symptoms, the right combination of therapies can significantly reduce discomfort and improve qualit...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
21:01
.png)
55: How to Manage Allergies: Trigger Avoidance
Allergic rhinitis affects 20% of people with substantial impact on quality of life, causing symptoms like nasal inflammation, itchy eyes, and post-nasal drip.• Allergic rhinitis is a nasal reaction to airborne particles causing a histam...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 56
•
32:45
.png)
54: Compounding Pharmacies vs. FDA-Approved: The Weight Loss Drug Dilemma
The meteoric rise in demand for weight loss drugs has created widespread shortages, leading to the emergence of compounding pharmacies as an alternative source for these medications.• Compounding pharmacies create custom medications by ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 55
•
29:19
.png)
53: The Impact of GLP-1 Medications on Weight Loss and Muscle Mass
Summary In this episode, Ed Delesky, MD, and Nicole Aruffo, RN, discuss the impact of GLP-1 medications on lean body mass and muscle mass during weight loss. They explore definitions of lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 54
•
23:26
52: Navigating Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide
In this episode, Ed Delesky, MD, and Nicole Aruffo, RN, discuss Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), covering its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and various treatment options. They emphasize the importance of understanding IBS as a common condition af...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 53
•
38:55
51: Depression Treatment Triangle: Medications, Therapy, and Behavioral Activation
Depression requires a comprehensive treatment approach addressing biological, psychological, and social dimensions for true healing. We explore the three essential components of effective depression management: medication, therapy, and behavior...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 52
•
27:26
50: Understanding Depression: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Help
We are offering a trigger warning for this episode as we discuss topics related to depression including suicide. Please know 988 as a phone number and a resource to get immediate help in a mental health crisis. Do you feel persisten...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 51
•
32:28
