Mayo Clinic Health Matters

We all want a bright set of pearly whites, but teeth are more than what meets the eye. Your mouth and teeth serve as gatekeepers for your body, helping protect your heart, lungs and other organs from bacteria, pathogens and disease.On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Sarah Lee, a prosthodontist, about how oral health and overall health go hand in hand — and how to optimize your dental hygiene routine.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails.  Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this discussion, Dr. Christopher Camp, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert at Mayo Clinic, unpacks the nuances of sports injuries like tennis elbow and the newly dubbed pickleball elbow. He shares vital insights on recognizing early signs of tendon injury, emphasizing pain management and the importance of modifying activity. Dr. Camp also highlights preventive strategies such as cross-training and the significance of strength training and recovery in injury prevention, ensuring both athletes and casual players can stay in the game.

Dr. Gary Schwartz, a nephrologist specializing in hypertensive disorders, discusses the often-hidden issue of high blood pressure affecting nearly half of American adults. He explains the meaning behind blood pressure numbers and the importance of home monitoring for accurate readings. Key lifestyle factors like diet and activity that contribute to hypertension are highlighted, along with the difference between primary and secondary hypertension. Dr. Schwartz also shares effective management strategies and when medication or surgery might be necessary.

Your colon is more than a pit stop for waste — it houses a lush, thriving ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These organisms affect everything from your digestion to your immune system — and maybe even your mental health. So how can we harness the power of the gut microbiome? And when it comes to “gut-healthy” diets and products, who should you believe?On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Sahil Khanna about the care and keeping of your gut microbiome — and the exciting potential of microbiota-based therapies.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails.Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Amaal Starling, a neurologist specializing in headache treatment at Mayo Clinic Phoenix, guides listeners through the fascinating world of headaches. She explains the over 200 different types, including migraines, tension, and cluster headaches, each with unique symptoms and effects. Dr. Starling deep dives into the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, the impact of lifestyle factors, and tips for discussing headaches with healthcare providers. Listeners gain valuable insights on navigating their headache management and exploring diverse treatment options.

Ovarian cancer may not be the most common or talked-about cancer, but like any major disease, it can turn your life upside down. While the risk of developing ovarian cancer is comparatively lower, it’s harder to detect — there’s no reliable way to screen for it, and early symptoms can be vague. Still, some dedicate their careers to advancing its treatment.On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with one such person: Dr. Marion Curtis, whose groundbreaking research is changing the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails.Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back for a second installment of the Vaccines episode, digging further into vaccines and dispelling misinformation about them.On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Gregory Poland returns to explain why women have better immune responses to viral vaccines than men, how "natural infection" is NOT safer than vaccines, and what the future of vaccines looks like.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

No one likes being poked with a needle, but it’s way better than getting seriously sick. It can be hard to stay up to date with all your vaccinations, though: There’s a new COVID vaccine every year, the new RSV vaccine in 2023, and... when was the last time you got a tetanus booster?On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Gregory Poland explains how vaccines are made, what a world without them would look like, and how getting a vaccine is safer than driving a car.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

More people are living with HIV than ever before. And no, it's not because transmission rates have spiked. It's because people who are HIV positive are living longer, healthier lives—a radical change from decades past. On this episode of Health Matters, we're celebrating how far we've come with Dr. Maryam Mahmood, and learning more about HIV looks like today.Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Roughly 20 million Americans already have some form of a thyroid issue. And it's estimated that over half of them... are completely unaware of it.On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Mabel Ryder breaks down the thyroid's important role in the body and how it affects all organs — and what happens when it's not functioning optimally. Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy