Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P. It’s relatively common for individuals to feel somewhat sad or have the “winter blues” when the days get shorter and then feel better when we get our daylight back in the spring. However, for some, mood changes can be more serious, and they may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression characterized by recurrent mood changes related to a change in the season. It’s estimated that up to 10 million Americans are affected by this disorder. What’s the natural history of seasonal affective disorder? Is it the same as depression which tends to occur around the holidays? Is seasonal affective disorder related to the time of year or the amount of sunlight and does it ever occur during the summer months? I’ll be asking these questions and more of my guest as we discuss “Seasonal Depression” as part of our “Holiday Stress and Wellness” podcast series. My guest for today’s podcast is psychologist Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P., from the Mayo Clinic. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Tara Schmidt, a registered dietician and nutritionist from the Mayo Clinic, shares invaluable tips to tackle holiday weight gain. She discusses the common culprits of holiday eating, including calorie-dense foods and stress-related snacking. Tara emphasizes the importance of mindful eating and suggests practical strategies for portion control. She also offers healthy dish ideas and smart substitutions for holiday baking, ensuring you can enjoy festive flavors while keeping your health in check. This is your guide to a healthier holiday season!

Jon O. Ebbert, an internist and nicotine dependence specialist at the Mayo Clinic, dives into the world of vaping and nicotine addiction. He discusses shocking statistics on high school vaping rates and the health risks associated with it. The conversation covers the addictive nature of vaping, including the potent nicotine delivery systems and how they compare to traditional cigarettes. Dr. Ebbert also addresses regulatory challenges, the marketing tactics targeting youth, and the complex role of vaping in smoking cessation efforts.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.   Guest: Aleksandra Kukla, M.D. In 2023, an estimated 14% of all adults in the U.S. or just over 35 million individuals had chronic kidney disease and it’s even more common in the elderly population affecting over 1/3 of those over the age of 65. It represents the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s now known that chronic kidney disease is associated with systemic inflammation, which is responsible for a variety of complications including atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Does kidney disease result in inflammation or does inflammation produce renal dysfunction? Are there inflammatory markers we could measure to assess this inflammation? Can we do anything to reduce the inflammation and if so, does it improve patient outcome? These are just some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest, Aleksandra Kukla, M.D., from the Division of Nephrology at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Chronic Kidney Disease as a Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome”. These talks on Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Disease are sponsored by Novo Nordisk Learn more about this series HERE Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Maria L. Collazo-Clavell, an expert in inflammation and cardiometabolic disease from Mayo Clinic, dives into the alarming link between obesity and systemic inflammation. She unpacks how obesity triggers inflammatory responses, impacting risks for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. The discussion highlights the role of C-reactive protein as a key marker, effective weight loss strategies, and the necessity of personalized treatment approaches. Plus, they explore innovative dietary and exercise recommendations to combat these health challenges.

Delve into the often-overlooked world of liver fat deposits and their serious implications. Explore the relationship between hepatic inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases, including the alarming rise of steatohepatitis. Learn about risk factors, diagnostic advancements like elastography, and the role of the FIB-4 score. Discover the importance of early screening and effective management strategies, especially lifestyle modifications, to combat this escalating health concern affecting both adults and children.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Regis I. Fernandes, M.D. Inflammation commonly occurs as a response to injury or infection but can lead to damage when it develops in healthy tissue. It’s now known that inflammation plays a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease. It produces damage to the endovascular arterial cells allowing plaque to form within the artery leading to stenosis, thereby reducing coronary blood flow. What initiates the inflammatory response as it develops in otherwise healthy arteries? How should we use the hs-CRP in measuring inflammation in cardiovascular disease? Does our management of cardiovascular disease result in a decrease in hs-CRP? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest, Regis I. Fernandes, M.D., a preventive cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “hs-CRP and Cardiovascular Disease”. These talks on Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Disease are sponsored by Novo Nordisk Learn more about this series HERE Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Vinaya Simha, M.B.B.S., M.D. Type 2 Diabetes is a commonly seen condition in a general medical practice. It’s estimated that over 38 million adults have the disease. When we think of diabetes, we think of a metabolic condition with patients who have hyperglycemia, often overweight, and occasionally have renal, eye and/or neurologic complications. But, do we ever think of diabetes as an inflammatory disease? How is inflammation associated with diabetes? What are the mediators of inflammation in diabetics and when we treat diabetes, are we reducing the associated inflammation in addition to lowering blood glucose? These are questions I’ll be asking our guest, Vinaya Simha, M.B.B.S., M.D., from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Type 2 Diabetes as an Inflammatory Disease”. These talks on Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Disease are sponsored by Novo Nordisk Learn more about this series HERE Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Atul Jain, M.D., M.S. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and it’s responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths. It’s estimated to cost over $250 billion a year, which includes the cost of medical services, medications and lost productivity. Patients with cardiovascular disease are commonly seen in a general medical practice and since it’s such a common health problem, we’re all pretty comfortable managing these patients. But do we know what’s happening pathologically? What’s the role of cholesterol and inflammation in cardiovascular disease?  What causes the inflammation? How do we measure it and most importantly, can we do anything about it? I’ll be asking these questions of our guest, internist Atul Jain, M.D., M.S., from the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss the interplay between cholesterol, inflammation and thrombosis in cardiovascular disease. These talks on Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Disease are sponsored by Novo Nordisk Learn more about this series HERE Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Joselyn R. Lebow, Ph.D., L.P. Unfortunately, mental health problems are common in our youth. A recent study by the CDC found that among adolescents aged 12 to 17, just under 21% had experienced a major depressive episode within the past year. Among high school students, more than 35% reported feeling sad or hopeless, with nearly 20% seriously contemplating suicide and mental health disorders are not limited to our teens. Over 17% of children aged 2 through 8 have had a diagnosis of a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. Are mental health disorders in our youth increasing? How might depression present in a child or adolescent? How common is suicide in our youth and how often are suicide attempts successful? I’ll be asking these questions and more to my guest in today’s podcast on “Pediatric Mental Health Disorders” as part of our “Back to School” podcast series. My guest is child psychologist Joselyn R. Lebow, Ph.D., L.P., from the Mayo Clinic. To learn more about this series, check it out HERE Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.