Your Doctor Friends

Have y'all heard of CRISPR?? This revolutionary gene-editing technology has the potential to treat and possibly CURE genetic diseases. Recently an FDA advisory committee has recommended the use of this technology in efforts to cure symptoms of sickle cell disease in people! THIS IS HUGE NEWS! In today's episode, Jeremy presents the context and backstory of sickle cell disease, and the ripple effects of using gene-editing therapy to treat it effectively. This could be a real game-changer for folks living with sickle cell disease, who only have access to supportive care measures to treat the devastating, and frequently deadly effects of this debilitating genetic disorder. Your Doctor Friends are excited, and you should be too! WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE, FRIENDS! The FDA's final decision on its approval of "exa-cel", the groundbreaking gene-editing technique to treat sickle cell disease is scheduled for December 8, 2023, right around the corner! Stay tuned folks, you can bet that Your Doctor Friends will cover more stories about this amazing leap in treatment for genetic disorders! Finally, stay tuned til the end for a little "dessert" health headline story from Julie about using leftover antibiotics; the reason why people do it, and what the ramifications could be. Resources for today's episode include: A New York Times article "Panel Says That Innovative Sickle Cell Cure Is Safe Enough for Patients". A Doc Wire News article "FDA Advisory Committee Endorses Safety of Exa-Cel in SCD". The NIH website's page on "What Is Sickle Cell Disease?" An article by the Infectious Disease Society of America outlining how antibiotics are "like gold" to some patients, discussing how personal beliefs and health care barriers drive inappropriate antibiotic use. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show! @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

POSTPRANDIAL SOMNOLENCE STRIKES AGAIN! In this Thanksgiving-themed episode, Jeremy unpacks the science behind why we feel so sleepy after a big meal. What's the reason? Is it the tryptophan? Is it the sugar? Is it the time of day? Listen and find out :) We are so thankful for you, our dear listeners! Enjoy restful time with your loved ones! For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show! @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

According to a recent article by Christina Frangou in the Guardian, "doctors are dying by suicide at higher rates than the general population. Somewhere between 300 to 400 physicians a year in the US take their own lives, the equivalent of one medical school graduating class annually." This sobering statistic from the eye-opening Guardian article (aptly titled "US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out") resonated with Your Doctor Friends, and we are fortunate enough to have the inspiration of that article, Dr. Carrie Cunningham HERE WITH US! Dr. Cunningham is an endocrine surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and holds a professorship at Harvard. She was recently elected President of the Association of Academic Surgery. Her Presidential Address at the AAS 2023 National Meeting, titled “Removing the Mask” created quite a stir, as she shared her personal struggles with depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and her connection to a friend and colleague (Dr. Christina "Tina" Barkley) who died by suicide. Imagine getting up in front of thousands of your colleagues and baring the most vulnerable parts of yourself. It took tons of courage, and the YouTube video of her address went viral. This week we try a bit of a “hybrid” format for Health Headlines. We just had to capitalize on this fantastic opportunity to speak directly with the subject of the article, and get her take straight from the source! Thanks for listening to this one, friends, it means a lot :) Resources from the episode include: The Guardian article, "US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out." YouTube link to Dr. Carrie Cunningham's Presidential Address at the 2023 Academic Surgical Congress, titled "Removing the Mask." The 1973 JAMA article, "The Sick Physician. Impairment by Psychiatric Disorders, Including Alcoholism and Drug Dependence." The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation website. The Association of Academic Surgery's website. Dr. Cunningham's professional MassGen profile. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show! @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

Many of the questions we answer here on Your Doctor Friends focus on a specific problem. What should I do if I am nauseous? Did I tear my meniscus? Do I have a kidney stone?  However, the "holy grail" in healthcare lies in the question, can I prevent a problem? Individually, we go to our annual physicals. We click on the headlines that suggest there is a "secret" or "one weird trick" we didn’t know that could make us feel better or live longer or perform better. We read nutrition labels, take vitamins and supplements, consult with nutritionists and personal trainers. Universally, we all want to live long, healthy lives.  Alas, healthcare does not often encourage prevention. Insurance generally doesn’t cover preventative services. Healthcare companies, by and large, don’t invest in preventative care. Similarly, diagnostic testing, the backbone of identifying risks, remains underfunded and under-researched.  Again, this all begs the question, can we actually prevent disease? Today Your Doctor Friends are tagging in their friends, Max Fitzgerald, MD and Dr. Danny Luger, MD! Drs. Max Fitzgerald and Danny Luger are physicians at Rush University Medical Center and direct the Center for Prevention of Cardiac Disease. Max is a Physiatrist (a specialist in musculoskeletal medicine and rehabilitation) and Danny is a Cardiologist. They are both exceptional clinicians, incredibly accomplished individually, and together they saw a hole in our medical system and Your Doctor Friends are super jacked to have them here on the show! This episode underscores the necessity of habitual changes, like movement/exercise adjustment and sleep regulation, for preventing diseases and their efforts in setting up a care model focusing on prevention at Rush. Drs. Fitzgerald and Luger also share the community collaborations they have initiated to enhance community wellbeing. Points of Interest in the episode: 00:13 The Importance of, and Challenges Regarding Prevention in Healthcare 01:15 The Role of Annual Physicals and Lifestyle Choices 01:41 The Current State of Healthcare and Prevention 02:07 The Potential of Disease Prevention 04:35 The Origin and Goals of the Preventative Clinic 09:48 The Role of Mental Health in Preventive Care 39:53 The Importance of Sleep and Diet in Preventive Care 42:28 The Role of Community and Policy in Preventive Care To learn more about the Rush Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, check out their website here! For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show! @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

Happy HalloWEEK, FRIENDS! This week Your Doctor Friends are doling out TWO episodes of spoooooky stories and hair-raising health headlines! Each episode contains a "sharing size" story with a little "fun-sized" article at the end! Today's main topic involves the TERRIFYING California "Skittles Ban"! Spoiler alert, it really doesn't have anything to do with Skittles (thank goodness!), but does involve four different food additives now being banned in California with Gov. Gavin Newsom's "California Food Safety Act". What are these substances? Are they actually harmful to us to ingest? What does the data show? At the end Julie does a deep dive into a certain parasitic fungus that can control the minds of insects to propagate itself! It's the source material for the hit video game and HBO/Max series The Last of Us and the closest thing to zombies we will probably cover on this show :) We hope you enjoyed your Halloween and have a lovely Dia de los Muertos, friends! Resources for this episode include: The New York Times article titled "What to know about the 4 food additives banned by California". A study from Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology about the effects of oral erythrosine on men's thyroid function, as well as pituitary-thyroid function in rats A study from the Egyptian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology about toxicity of parabens in adult male rats. A review article from Environmental Health on potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children. An article from Food Chemistry on potassium bromate. A National Geographic article on how Cordyceps fungus species take over ants' brains. Another awesome National Geographic article entitled "Could a parasitic fungus evolve to control humans?" An Annals of Internal Medicine study on the worsening spread of Candida auris in the US from 2019-2021. The CDC webpage about Candida auris. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]    Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!   (Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)   Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, FRIENDS! This week Your Doctor Friends are doling out TWO episodes of spoooooky stories and hair-raising health headlines! Each episode contains a "sharing size" story with a little "fun-sized" article at the end! Today we start with the (maybe not-so-scientific) connection between the full moon and erratic behavior (if there really is one...). We dive into the origins of this widely-held belief that the full moon triggers weird demeanor, and what the studies suggest may be closer to the truth. At the end Jeremy explains the health benefits of eating actual pumpkin! Stay tuned for another eerie episode this Thursday, November 2nd (the end of the Dia de los Muertos!) for another bag of treats! Happy Healthy Haunting, y'all! Resources for this episode include: A Canadian Medical Association Journal article titled "Bad Moon Rising: the persistent belief in lunar connections to madness." A 1985 Psychological Bulletin journal article by Rotton and Kelly titled "Much ado about the full moon: a meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research." A study published in the World Journal of Surgery investigating full moons, zodiac signs, and Fridays the 13th and their relationships (or lack thereof) to emergency operations and intraoperative blood loss. A Scientific American article titled "Lunacy and the Full Moon. Does a full moon really trigger strange behavior?" A New York Times article on the health benefits of eating pumpkin! For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]    Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!   (Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)   Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

Food allergies are super common. According to the American College of Asthma and Immunology and the CDC, about 5% of kids and about 4% of adults are affected by food allergies. The allergic reactions can range from mild to severe and life threatening. Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problem (bummer). As we learned in our previous episode about Celiac Disease with Dr. Alessio Fasano, when we restrict people’s diets, it can create a really stressful and isolating situation for them. How can we support people with food allergies? Can we treat the allergies? Are food allergies actually more prevalent now than they have been historically? Thankfully, we have our friend and renowned expert in the field of Allergy and Immunology to help us understand more!   Welcome, Dave Stukus, MD! Dr. Stukus (DR. DAVE!!) is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy/Immunology Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He’s also the director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center. He’s very active on social media with @AllergyKidsDoc on Twitter and Instagram. We remember Dr. Stukus from his AWESOME episode about seasonal allergies! Hold on to your EpiPens, folks, let’s learn about food allergies! Key moments in this episode include: 00:06:32 - What Are Food Allergies? 00:09:47 - Major Culprits and Unknowns 00:13:57 - Different Methods of Testing 00:14:50 - Over-the-Counter Allergy Tests 00:15:29 - High IgE Levels and Allergies 00:24:35 - Diagnosing Food Allergies 00:27:10 - Reactivity to Cow's Milk Allergy 00:28:58 - Prevention of Food Allergies 00:30:26 - Treatment Options for Food Allergies 00:37:57 - What to Do in an Allergic Reaction 00:39:08 - Role of Antihistamines 00:48:36 - Food Allergy Labels 00:49:01 - EpiPen Availability in Schools 00:50:11 - Number of EpiPens to Have, Expiration Dates 00:52:35 - Evolving Understanding of Food Allergies, Future Research Dr. Stukus recommends the following trusted resources if you want to learn more: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The Support Groups page of FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education org). Dr. Dave's professional page via Nationwide Children's. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]    Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!   (Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)   Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

Have you ever used a weighted blanket? What was your experience? Did you feel like a human in a “thundershirt”? In today's SECOND COURSE, we delve into the data behind weighted blankets, and how they may help improve anxiety and sleep. We cover studies related weighted blankets during cancer treatment, inpatient psychiatric care, and for improving sleep in people with co-occurring mental health issues (like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD). Weighted blankets already have been studied extensively as a sensory tool for folks with autism spectrum disorder, and perhaps they can work for you too! Plus, in the DESSERT CART Jeremy explains a recent study explaining that 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit might not be the accurate "normal temperature" for humans. Do you run HOT or COLD? Listen to find out! Resources for today's episode include: Oncology Nursing News article "Weighted Blankets Effectively Reduce Anxiety for Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment". Poster presented at the 48th Annual Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress by Oncology Nurses at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Article in the American Journal of Occupational Medicine- "Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review". Article from the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine- "A randomized controlled trial of weighted chain blankets for insomnia in psychiatric disorders." Article in the Journal of Integrative Medicine- "Using weighted blankets in an inpatient mental health hospital to decrease anxiety." A Harvard Health article about benefits of weighted blanket use. New York Times article- "The Average Human Body Temperature is Not 98.6 Degrees". For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: [email protected]    Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!   (Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)   Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)