Health Matters

This week, Faith is joined by urologist Dr. Alfred Winkler from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss prostate health and why it’s so important for men to get screened for prostate cancer. Dr. Winkler also shares how it’s among the most treatable cancers, and why some men can be under “active surveillance” and live with the slow-growing cancer with minimal impact on their lives.

Faith Salie talks to Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, an infectious disease expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about what to do if you or a loved one is bitten by a tick. She debunked some common misconceptions about tick-borne illnesses and breaks down the steps to preventing tick bites and conducting tick checks. Click here for the episode transcript. 

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. Colleen Cullen to discuss how, no surprise, friendship has been shown to have amazing effects on both mental health and physical health. They discuss the recent research behind loneliness, the powerful impacts of friendship on our bodies, as well as how to make new friends as adults and how to nurture the friendships that we have.

In recognition of Women’s Health Month, we’re revisiting an important episode focused on OB-GYN care. Our host, Faith Salie talks to Dr. Lauren Osborne, an OB-GYN and reproductive psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about how to protect mental health during and after pregnancy. Dr. Osborne discusses common anxiety and depression symptoms during this time and provides advice on medication and seeking support. Click here for the episode transcript. 

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. JoAnn Difede, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine and a specialist in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. “Trauma” is a term that we use every day, but most of us aren’t talking about trauma in the strictly medical sense. Dr. Difede explained how trauma forms when we respond to threats that provoke us to fight, flee, or freeze, and described the difference between trauma and PTSD. Despite the challenging nature of a conversation that covers examples of traumatic events, we end this episode on a hopeful note: effective treatments exist for people with PTSD.

Going by the dictionary, to gaslight someone is a strategy to psychologically manipulate them over a period of time so the targeted person questions the validity of their own thoughts and their perception of reality. While gaslighting isn't a formal medical diagnosis, it can have a big impact on our mental health. To help us better understand the term, since it's everywhere these days, Faith is joined this week by Dr. Warren Ng, a psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian and Columbia, and the Community Health Director for New York Presbyterian's Center for Youth Mental Health. He shares how to recognize the signs of gaslighting and offers tips on how to combat it and protect your mental health. 

Conversations about menopause often raise more questions than answers. This phase of life has been shown to impact everything from mental health to heart health to sleep — leaving many women in search of ways to help manage symptoms and ease this transition. Join Dr. Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, a gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and the director of the Women’s Midlife Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, to explore menopause science in this Women's Health Month episode.

How easy is it to get pregnant?For a successful pregnancy to occur, many things have to happen, including a healthy egg developing, the right quality and quantity of sperm, and the uterus, fallopian tubes, and hormones all functioning optimally. On top of that, the timing has to be just right.In recognition of Infertility Awareness Week, host Faith Salie talks with Dr. Alexis Melnick, reproductive endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to dispel the myths of infertility and dig into the realities of human fertility. They explore the facts about conception, similarities between the reproductive hormones for men and women, and talk about the role of fertility treatment for people who want to become parents. In their conversation, Faith and Dr. Melnick share a little of their own stories, and discuss the emotional weight of fertility issues.More about Dr. Alexis MelnickHear more from Dr. Melnick about how IVF works

Research has shown that the outdoors can improve a person’s mental and physical health. In honor of Earth Day, Faith is joined this week by Dr. Erin Engle, a psychologist from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to discuss the many ways that nature can reduce distractions and impact mood. Whether it's a brief walk around the block, playing outside with your kids, or volunteering at your local community garden, being outside has many benefits for mental health.

Recent surveys have shown that more than 60% of Americans are alcohol drinkers. But is there such a thing as a safe amount of alcohol? How does alcohol impact your health? Dr. Robert Brown, a hepatologist from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explains the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and gives recommended intakes for men and women.