Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🚨 New insights from Annals of Internal Medicine challenge long-held beliefs about alcohol 🍷 and health 🧬. A 2025 U.S. Surgeon General advisory links even modest drinking to increased cancer risk 🎗️—especially breast and oral cancers. Experts now urge clearer labeling, better patient counseling 🩺, and culturally normalizing abstinence 🌱. Is it time to rethink the “glass of red wine” advice? 🧐 #PublicHealth #AlcoholAwareness #PreventiveMedicine #AnnalsOfIM

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

💡 Renal Denervation: A New Era in Hypertension Care 🩺   Despite decades of effective medications, only ~25% of patients worldwide achieve blood pressure control. Non-adherence remains a huge barrier. 📉   This Nature Reviews Cardiology article (Fisher & Kirtane, Sept 2025) explores the journey of renal denervation (RDN) — from Smithwick’s sympathectomy in the 1950s to today’s FDA-approved radiofrequency 🔥 and ultrasound 🔊 catheter systems.   ✅ Sham-controlled trials show RDN lowers BP by 5–10 mmHg, similar to one effective antihypertensive drug. ✅...

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

📘 New Insights on Diverticulitis 📊🔬💊 Did you know that while 1–4% of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis, it still accounts for ~200,000 hospitalizations annually in the US and >$6.3B in healthcare costs? 🚑💰 ✅ CT scan remains the gold standard for diagnosis 🖼️ ✅ Observation & pain control are first-line for uncomplicated cases 💊 ✅ Antibiotics reserved for high-risk groups (elderly, immunocompromised, pregnant, systemic illness) ⚠️ ✅ Surgery indicated for recurrent or complicated cases (fistula, stricture, perforation) ✂️...

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🚨 Hypertension remains the world’s #1 killer — yet fewer than 1 in 4 patients achieve control.   💊 Exciting innovations are reshaping the field: ✔️ Aprocitentan (endothelin receptor antagonist) – first new class in decades ✔️ siRNA (zilebesiran) – 6-monthly dosing, tackling adherence ✔️ Aldosterone synthase inhibitors – overcoming “aldosterone escape” ✔️ Non-steroidal MRAs & neprilysin inhibitors – precision targeting with broader benefits ✔️ Single-pill & quadpill combos – simplifying therapy, boosting adherence   🌍 Together,...

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🌟 Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE), one of India’s greatest theologians, shaped Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (Qualified Non-Dualism). His vision of Atman (self) and Brahman (supreme reality), united through bhakti (devotion), transformed Hindu theology and inspired generations. 🕉️📖   💡 His commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras laid the foundation of Sri Vaishnavism and emphasized a path of devotion, grace, and liberation (moksha). ✨   🙏 A reminder for today’s healthcare providers and leaders: true service blends knowledge, humility, and...

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🧬 South Asians make up 25% of the world—yet just 3% of major cardiovascular trials. A new systematic review (310 RCTs, 1M+ participants) reveals stark underrepresentation, especially outside India. No South Asians in trials for heart failure, cardiac arrest, or valvular disease. 📉 The data gap is real—and it’s limiting care.   🔍 We need global trial designs that are inclusive, disaggregated, and powered for equity. Let’s change the research playbook. 💡   #CardioTrials #SouthAsianHealth #DiversityInResearch #PrecisionMedicine #GlobalHealth 🌏🫀📊

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🚶‍♀️📲 New research alert! A massive natural experiment tracking 7,447 relocations across 1,609 US cities reveals that urban walkability directly boosts physical activity 🏙️💪   📈 Moving to more walkable cities increased daily steps by ~1,100 and doubled compliance with MVPA guidelines! 🎯 A powerful case for urban design as preventive medicine.   🔗 A must-read for public health advocates, city planners, and digital health innovators! #Walkability #UrbanHealth #DigitalEpidemiology #MVPA #SmartCities #BuiltEnvironment #PublicHealth 🏃‍♂️🌆

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🧂 Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an independent risk factor for CVD.   🚹🚺 Women are more salt-sensitive than men, especially after menopause. ⚙️ Key drivers: RAAS, ENaC, natriuresis, and immune pathways. 💉 Estrogen protects, testosterone raises pressure, menopause tips the balance.   🐀 From Dahl’s rats to Conn’s syndrome, SSBP research shows why sex-specific, personalized therapy is the future of hypertension care.   🔗 Nature Reviews Cardiology

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

Liver, Lipids, and the Left Ventricle 🩸🫀🧬   The NEJM review reminds us that fatty liver isn’t just a liver problem. MASLD drives risk for heart disease, diabetes, kidney dysfunction, and even cancers. 🚨   Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in MASLD—outpacing cirrhosis and cancer. 🫀💔   With new tools like FIB-4, VCTE, ELF, and promising drugs such as resmetirom and GLP-1/GIP agonists, we’re entering an era where treating the liver can protect the heart. 💊🌱   #MASLD #LiverHeartConnection #NEJM #CardiometabolicHealth

Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'

🧓💊 The COMBINE-AF substudy offers important guidance for managing frail, elderly, VKA-experienced patients with atrial fibrillation. Switching to standard-dose DOACs reduced stroke/systemic embolism risk and cut intracranial & fatal bleeding 🧠🛡️, but raised gastrointestinal bleeding rates 🍽️🩸—especially with certain agents. Sensitivity analyses show apixaban & edoxaban may offer a safer bleeding profile. These findings highlight the need for shared decision-making ⚖️ and integrated ABC pathway care ❤️ to balance prevention, safety, and patient...