How do you experience stress? Does it come from a hard day at work? Or being stretched too thin supporting others? Worrying about food? Living in a difficult environment?

So many factors can contribute to stress, and we’re all feeling it. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee believes our stress levels are higher than ever and that it’s making us sicker. Dr. Chatterjee is a physician who practices lifestyle medicine, meaning he treats his patients with chronic conditions in part through helping them live healthier, happier lives – which includes less stress.

In this episode, the Surgeon General and Dr. Chatterjee explore the impact of stress on the body, the journey of wellness/lifestyle medicine, and what makes them feel passionate about being doctors. As they reach into personal stories to explain how and why they care for people, Dr. Chatterjee reveals his frustration with how the medical establishment has historically treated lower-income people and his firm belief in making great medical information available to all.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

(03:26) How stressed are we?

(05:55) How does stress influence our behaviors?

(08:57) How have you seen stress manifest in people’s lives?

(11:57) How is stress like being chased by a tiger?

(15:57) Why does stress hit us in the gut (and the libido)?

(20:03) How did you become a doctor?

(26:40) How has doctoring become so much more than seeing a patient in an office?

(31:48) Listening is real medicine.

(35:05) How Dr. Chatterjee’s son’s illness changed everything.

(41:15) What’s Dr. Chatterjee’s approach to treating chronic conditions?

(45:27) How does lifestyle influence our health?

(46:49) Why all patients should get great health information.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Physician & Podcast Host

Twitter: @drchatterjeeuk

Instagram: @drchatterjee

Facebook: @drchatterjee

About Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Dr. Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.

He hosts the most listened to health podcast in the UK and Europe, "Feel Better, Live More" – which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. The podcast has received 125 million audio downloads to date and is listened to and watched by over 8 million people every month. Chris Evans calls Feel Better Live More ‘One of the best podcasts on the planet.’

Dr Chatterjee is known for his ability to simplify complex health advice and find the root cause of people's health problems - he highlighted his methods in the ground-breaking BBC One television show, “Doctor in the House,” which has been shown in over 70 countries around the world. He has recently been awarded the title of Professor of Health Communication and Education at The University of Chester.

He is the Number 1 selling health author in the UK; each of his 5 books are Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His latest book “Happy Mind, Happy Life” was published on March 31st 2022 and was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller.

Dr. Chatterjee hosts his own Amazon Original daily podcast “Built to Thrive,” regularly appears on BBC Television and has been featured in numerous international publications including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and Vogue. His TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has been viewed over 5.5 million times.

Episode 170: Getting to the Root of the Matter