The Science of Health Podcast

True or False? Common Pregnancy Myths

When you’re pregnant, especially for the first time, it’s hard to make sense of all the advice out there. You want to do everything right for the health of your baby, but you also want to counterbalance friends and family members who may be quick with advice or guidance. Should you really avoid hot tubs when you’re pregnant? What about exercise or coloring your hair? Certified Nurse Midwife, Pamela Hetrick has all the answers, and explains what is true and when to have a good laugh.

Are Vitamins and Supplements Necessary or a Waste of Money? It Depends.

Almost one in every three Americans takes a multivitamin. But why? In many cases, nutrients from multivitamins are covered by a healthy daily diet. For some, vitamins and supplements are beneficial. But how do you know if you really need vitamin B, C or D? Or if fish oil or turmeric are right for you? Naturopathic doctor with UH Connor Whole Health, Dr. Jacob Wolf has the answers and helps you do your homework before buying a bottle of pills.

We Can Change Our Dreams: The Science of Sleep

Babies dream more than adults. Waking up during sleep impacts whether a dream is remembered – and some people remember them while others don’t. Does that mean anything? Why are we ‘paralyzed’ while we dream? What does research say about the impact of supplements? Behavioral sleep medicine expert and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Carolyn Ievers-Landis, PhD has the answers and also examines our ability to control our dreams and get rid of our nightmares.

Joint Replacement: A Quality of Life Decision

Having pain in your knee or hip doesn’t mean that you need joint replacement surgery. Many issues are resolved with treatment like medication or therapy. The most common reason that knee or hip replacement is performed is due to osteoarthritis. Steven Fitzgerald, MD, Chief, Division of Adult Reconstruction at University Hospitals explains what goes into the decision to have surgery and why every patient is unique based on age, health history and desired postoperative quality of life.

The Benefits of Boredom

Text messages, emails, news notifications and social media have us in a heightened state of stimulation. While some of that information is positive, turning off the stimuli, even temporarily, has tremendous upside. UH psychiatrist, Patrick Runnels, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Population/Behavioral Health, explains the science behind the benefits of boredom. Being in the moment decreases anxiety and stress and allows us to be happier overall.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Medical Advances and the Importance of a Compassionate Approach

Every minute, a person in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a brain disease that slowly destroys memory and other mental functions. While some risk factors, such as a head injury or genes, may not be completely avoidable, other more controllable factors may impact whether you develop Alzheimer’s. Alan Lerner, MD, Director of the Brain Health and Memory Center at University Hospitals, shares promising research in this area and gives a humanistic perspective on a disease that’s been called The Long Goodbye.

Overcoming Anxiety and Taking Back Control

We all experience worry and anxiety but for some, it can impact overall functioning in a negative way. What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder? Productive and unproductive worry? UH psychologist, Dr. Robert Chester, a specialist in anxiety disorders, offers advice about recognizing cognitive distortions or errors in thinking. Overcoming anxiety may be challenging but there are ways to take back control.

How Your Newborn Baby Communicates with You

Connecting with your baby before and after birth can set the stage for your relationship with your child over the entire course of your lives together. But how much can a parent connect with a newborn, who seems to have almost no ability to communicate aside from crying? Lots, says UH Rainbow pediatrician Ganga Srinivas, MD. Babies often are trying to tell you something, whether turning their face away from you when overstimulated, gazing in the direction of your voice or smacking their lips when hungry. Dr. Srinivas describes the many subtle ways in which your newborn is constantly communicating with you – and how you can communicate back.

Intuitive Eating: How To Get Rid of the Rules and Enjoy Food

Ninety-five percent of fad diets fail. Many people end up gaining back the weight they lost – and then put on even more pounds. If you’re tired of diets but still want to lose weight or eat more healthfully, you might consider intuitive eating. Sometimes called the mindfulness approach, intuitive eating doesn’t specifically focus on weight loss. It’s about developing a positive relationship with food and losing the guilt many people feel about enjoying food. Even better, a growing body of scientific evidence supports this approach. UH dietician and wellness coordinator Jessica Jurcak, MS, MPH, RD, LD, explains.

Why Heart Attacks Are on the Rise in Younger People

When you think of someone having a heart attack, you probably picture a person in their 50s or 60s. And that is typically the case. But over the last 20 years, more and more people who are younger than age 40 are having heart attacks. From 2006 to 2016, heart attacks for people in this age group have increased by 2 percent every year. What is driving this trend? UH cardiologist Raju Modi, MD, explains, and tells us how we can lower our risks at any age.